Meghri Town Anapastanac Church

Name: Meghri town Anapastanac church
Monument type: Church- Monastic Complex
Region: Syunik Province
Periods: Medieval

Name: St. Hovhannes church of Meghri Cathedral

Other nomination: Anapastanats Cathedral

Monument type: Monastery complex

Region: Syunik

Community: Meghri

Residence: Meghri town

Location: It is located on a high place in the north-west of the Meghri town, surrounded by gardens, residential and economic buildings, a medieval and a modern cemetery.

Preservation: Only the church has been preserved of the monastery, and of the other structures – only the foundations (hallway, monks’ cells).

Coordinate: 38°54’27.16″ N 46°14’17.76″E

Altitude: 680 m

Era and chronology: The monastery dates back to the Late Middle Ages, the XVII century.

Meghri Anapastanats:
The Sacred Haven of Meghri

As you explore the ancient halls and gaze upon the stunning frescoes of this monastery, you can’t help but be transported back in time, where the echoes of monks’ chants and the whispers of legends continue to resonate through the centuries.

The Meghri Anapastanats Monastery Complex is more than just a place; it’s a journey through time and a window into the soul of Armenia’s rich heritage, so be prepared to embark on a spiritual journey that will transform you from within.

Nestled in the picturesque region of Syunik, Armenia, where history and spirituality converge, lies the enigmatic Meghri Anapastanats Monastery Complex. This architectural marvel, also known as the St. Hovhannes Church of Meghri Cathedral, transports us back in time to the Late Middle Ages, specifically the 17th century.

Perched at an altitude of 680 meters on a commanding hill in the northwest of Meghri town, this complex stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of faith and culture. Surrounded by lush gardens, residential and economic buildings, as well as a juxtaposition of medieval and modern cemeteries, the Meghri Anapastanats Monastery Complex is a vivid reminder of the rich heritage of Syunik.

The centerpiece of this complex, the St. Hovhannes Church, is a structure that marries local granite with brick craftsmanship. Its striking dome, a rarity in Syunik, commands attention with its 12 facets and elegant conical spire. The church’s architectural significance is further underscored by its layout, where three naves intersect in the middle, creating the characteristic shape of a cross-domed church. The church’s interior is adorned with frescoes that offer a glimpse into the artistic and spiritual sensibilities of the era.

While only the church still stands proudly, the foundations of other late medieval structures, including a vestibule and monks’ cells, bear witness to the complex’s former grandeur.

The Meghri Anapastanats Monastery Complex goes beyond its physical presence; it is an archaeological treasure trove. Excavations at this site have unearthed a treasure trove of artifacts that provide invaluable insights into the daily life, culture, and practices of the monks who once resided here. From cross stones and tombstones to church ritual vessels, chandeliers, and glazed pottery, each discovery tells a story of a bygone era. Among these findings are fragments of manuscripts and ancient books, shedding light on the intellectual pursuits of the time.

Yet, the Meghri Anapastanats Monastery Complex is more than just a historical site. It is steeped in legends and folklore that add depth to its character. According to local legend, the monastery served as a temporary refuge for the homeless, the destitute, and the sick, earning it the name “Anapastanats,” which roughly translates to “shelter” or “refuge.”

FACTS

❈ The Meghri Anapastanats Monastery Complex, also known as the St. Hovhannes Church of Meghri Cathedral, is a 17th-century architectural marvel located in the picturesque region of Syunik, Armenia.
❈ Perched at an altitude of 680 meters, the complex includes lush gardens, residential and economic buildings, and medieval and modern cemeteries, reflecting the rich heritage of Syunik.
❈ The centerpiece, St. Hovhannes Church, combines local granite with brick craftsmanship, featuring a distinctive dome with 12 facets and a conical spire. Its cross-domed layout and interior frescoes offer insight into the era’s artistic and spiritual sensibilities.
❈ Archaeological excavations at the site have yielded a treasure trove of artifacts, including cross stones, tombstones, church ritual vessels, manuscripts, and more, providing a window into the daily life and culture of the monks.
❈ The monastery is steeped in legends, with a local legend suggesting that it served as a refuge for the homeless, destitute, and sick, earning it the name “Anapastanats,” signifying “shelter” or “refuge.”

Research history

Stepanos Orbelyan refers to St. Hovhannes monastery while listing the monasteries and deserts of the Syunyats diocese. Ghevond Alishan also indicates to the monastery, clarifying the location problem of St. Hovhannes monastery. The monastery architecture was thoroughly examined by M. Hasratyan. In 2015 the nationwide charitable organization “Country and Culture”, initiated the Meghri Monastery restoration works, within the scope of which archaeological studies were carried out. Armenian-American philanthropists Hayk and Hilda Manjikians covered the costs of the monument restoration. The excavations were carried out by the expedition of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the RA NAS (archaeologists: A. Nalbandian, H. Badalyan, T. Aleksanyan) in 2016 and 2018-2020. The church renovation was completed in 2019 (architects: S. Nalbandyan, G. Gyulamiryan) and in the same year the church was consecrated. The process of designing, restoring and improving the area of the related auxiliary structures continue up to day (architect: L. Vasilyan).

Archaeological description

The main and only standing structure of the Meghri Monastery is the church, but there are also foundations of other late medieval structures, particularly the vestibule, and the monks’ cells. The church is built of local granite, the dome is brick, which is significant being one of the three late medieval domed churches in the whole Syunik. The hall has a rectangular volume, a gabled roof with the dome rising on it. All the three naves of the church intersect in the middle by a vertical nave and are of the same height. The nave leans on the arches from the gables to the walls. In this way, a composition of a cross-domed church is obtained in the plan, which, however, is not expressed in the monument dimensional resolution at all. The dome drum is cylindrical on the inside, with 12 facets on the outside, the top is spherical, with the conical spire. It has 9 windows, the only entrance is from the western side, opening into an attached, ruined vestibule. There are one storage rooms on both sides of the altar; the southern one has an underground floor. Standard rooms have single windows opening to the hall. All the arches, niches and entrances to the vaults are crowned with a taper at the top. The frescoes give a special appeal to the church.

🔨 Findings

Significance

It is one of the unique monastic complexes of the Late Middle Ages, where archeological excavations were carried out, and the discovered findings provide invaluable information about the monks’ lifestyle of the given era and various areas of the XVII century in general.

📜 Traditional legends

According to the legend, the monastery was a temporary refuge for the homeless, the poor and sick; this is where the name of the monastery “Anapastanats” derives from.

Sources

Stepanos Orbelyan 1910, History of Sisakan province, Tiflis, N. Aghaniants printing house, 619 pages.
Ghevond Alishan 1893, Sisakan. Topography of Syunyats world, Venice-St. Lazarus, 563 pages.
M. Hasratyan, Architectural Complexes of Syunik of the XVII-XVIII centuries, Yerevan, USSR Publishing House, 1973, 162 pages.
M. Hasratyan, Monuments of Meghri region, Yerevan, Armenia, 1987, 78 pages.
A. Nalbandian, A. Simonyan 2020, Newly discovered fragments of Meghri from the excavations of St. Hovhannes Church, Banber Matenadaran, N 29, 198-206 pp..

List of monuments

Syunik N 9.5/4

📷 Gallery

Plan of St. Hovhannes Church (Hasratyan 1973, 84).
The appearance of the monastery at the beginning of the XX century (photo provided by A. Nalbandian).
The view of the monastery from the south-west (photo by D. Mirijanyan).
The cross-stones piled above the entrance (photo by D. Mirijanyan).
The preserved part of the vestibule (photo by D. Mirijanyan).
The stage of the church (photo by D. Mirijanyan).
The fresco preserved on the pillar on the right side (photo by D. Mirijanyan).
The fresco preserved on the pillar on the left side (photo by D. Mirijanyan).
The mural on the left side of the stage (photo by D. Mirijanyan).
The mural on the right side of the stage (photo by D. Mirijanyan).
Preserved parts of monks’ cells (photo by D. Mirijanyan).
Sections of metal candlesticks (photo by A. Nalbandyan).
Fragment of a manuscript log (photo by A. Nalbandyan).
Examples of glazed pottery (photo by A. Nalbandyan).
Inscripted cymbal (photo by A. Nalbandyan).
One of the pipe samples (photo by A. Nalbandyan).