Sanahin Monastery Complex

Name: Sanahin Monastery and Bridge
Monument type: Church- Monastic Complex
Region: Lori Province
Periods: Medieval

Name: Sanahin Monastery Complex

Other nomination: Sanahin monastery

Monument type: Monastery complex

Region: Lori Region

Community: Alaverdi community

Residence: Alaverdi city

Location: Northern highlands of Sanahin district

Preservation: The main structures of the monastery complex are almost completely preserved. Some renovation works were carried out both in the Middle Ages and in the Soviet period.

Coordinates: 41o05’13.47” 44o39’58.17”

Altitude: 1040 m

Era and chronology: The monastery complex dates back to the High Middle Ages, X-XIII centuries.

Sanahin Monastery: Gently Whispering Words of Wisdom to Your Soul

Get ready to experience the transcendental impact that Sanahin Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has on its visitors. With its powerful aura of grandeur and intricate beauty, this 10th-century gem stands as one of the finest examples of medieval religious architecture at its prime.

Sanahin served as an enlightening and spiritual center during Medieval Armenia, renowned for its school of illuminators and calligraphers. Within its walls, numerous intellectual works, including religious and philosophical masterpieces, were carefully crafted.

As you stand within its premises, the tranquility of this sacred space will envelop your senses, and the deep echoes of wisdom emanating from its walls will resonate within you. In that moment, you will experience the profound legacy that sets this site apart and makes it truly extraordinary.

Located in the highlands of the magnificent Sanahin village in Lori, the Sanahin Monastery is part of a complex that includes religious and civil structures built between the 10th and 12th centuries.

It is worth noting that the name of this monastery is often associated with and linked to another monastic masterpiece located nearby: the Haghpat Monastery. In fact, the name “Sanahin,” meaning “this one is older than that one,” directly references Haghpat, as the latter was constructed at a later time.

The Sanahin complex comprises three churches, a scriptorium-library, theological school and library halls, and a belfry, which holds historical significance as one of the earliest structures of its kind in Armenia.

The first building to be established in the complex was the St. Astvatsatsin Church in the 940s. It was constructed by a group of clergymen who sought refuge in Armenia after facing persecution under Byzantine Emperor Romanos.

On the exterior, the St. Astvatsatsin Church has a rectangular plan, while it takes on a cross-shaped design once you enter. The crosses of the church are adorned with sculptures of animals and human heads, delicately positioned in the corners. These intricate sculptures can also be found decorating the exterior of the church, creating a harmonious and captivating aesthetic.

In 966, the second church, St. Amenaprkich (All-Savior) Monastery, was commissioned and built with the patronage of Queen Khosrovanuysh, the wife of King Ashot Oghormets from the Bagratuni dynasty.

The interior of this cross-domed church was once adorned with frescoes, although only a few fragments have survived to this day. On the façade of the church, you can find a remarkable full-length sculpture depicting the church’s founder, Queen Khosrovanuysh, alongside her two sons holding a model of the church.

In 1061, St. Grigor Church, the third church of the complex, was founded by Queen Hranush, daughter of Davit Anhoghin.

This small-scale structure is distinguished by a central dome that appears round on the outside and quadrangular on the inside.

Two years later, Queen Hranush also supervised the construction of the scriptorium-library. This building, known as the communion house, served as a repository for books, manuscripts, valuable monastery artifacts, communion bread, and relics. The design of the scriptorium took into account various factors crucial for the preservation of books and manuscripts, including lighting, ventilation, and temperature stability, ensuring their integrity for future generations.

In addition to the main structures, the Sanahin complex is further enriched by other precious historical gems in the surrounding area, adding to the overall value of the complex and making it one of Armenia’s most treasured architectural assets.

These include several churches, a chapel, and the tombs of the Arghutyun-Yerkaynbazouks and Zakarian princes. Additionally, the complex features a multitude of cross-stones adorned with meticulously carved designs, showcasing the rich artistic heritage of the region.

FACTS

❈ The name “Sanahin” translates to “this one is older than that one,” directly referring to the nearby Haghpat Monastery.

❈ The monastic complex was included in the UNESCO World Heritage in 2001.

❈ It is considered as an architectural marvel and its main structures are almost in pristine condition.

❈ The monastery of Sanahin served as a prominent hub of illumination during Medieval Armenia, acting as a spiritual, intellectual, and educational center. Throughout the centuries, numerous noteworthy philosophical and religious works were created and nurtured within its walls, contributing to the cultural and intellectual heritage of the region.

❈ Besides its three main churches, scriptorium-library, and theological school, there are also historical tombs and precious cross-stones, all of which make this site a cultural and historical treasure that captivates your full attention from the moment you step inside.

❈ Many of the edifices in the complex were founded by and built under the patronage of women who left their mark on the history of Ancient Armenia.

🔍 Research history

The detailed source research about the Sanahin monastery was carried out by K. Ghafadaryan, which resulted him to publish the first monograph about the complex. The archaeological study of the monastery complex was conducted in 2019 by the expedition of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, led by A. Nalbandyan in 2021.

The excavations of the monastery complex were implemented by the expedition of the “Scientific Research Center of the Historical and Cultural Heritage” SNOC, led by A. Nalbandyan.

🧱 Archaeological description

The Sanahin monastery complex consists of religious and civil buildings built in the X-XII centuries: three churches, scriptorium-library, vestibule, entry vestibule, belfry, tombs, theological school and library halls. In addition to the monuments making up the core of the monastery, the tombs of the Arghutyun-Yerkaynbazouks and Zakarian princes, the monastery spring, a large number of khachkars with intricate carvings, St. Hakob, St. Harutyun and St. Karapet churches, St. Sargis chapel, the sculptural cross stone of Grigor Tuteordu have been preserved (1184) in the area surrounded by the wall and outside it. Sanahin Monastery was one of the important spiritual and cultural centers of medieval Armenia. Many books have been written here, the scholars of the monastery school have authored a number of religious and philosophical works. St. Astvatsatsin Church was founded in the 940s, during the reign of King Abbas of Bagratuni (928-953), by a group of anti-Chalcedonian clergymen persecuted by Byzantine Emperor Romanos (920-944) and fled to Armenia. The church is cross-shaped on the inside and rectangular on the outside. The eastern one of the crosses is the semicircular Upper Tabernacle with vaults on either side. The other cross wings are rectangular.

There are sculptures of animals and human heads in the corners of the crosses of St. Astvatsatsin church. There are similar sculptures outside as well, on the southern side of the drum. A stone model of the church is placed on a pair of pillars above the entrance to the north-eastern repository.

The belfry is located in the north-western part of the vestibule, considered one of the earliest similar structures in Armenia.

St. Amenaprkich (All-Savior) Monastery or Katoghike was built in 966 at the order and with the active participation of Queen Khosrovanuysh, the wife of the King of Bagratuni, Ashot Oghormets. In 979 the monastery becomes episcopal with the edict of King Smbat II, becoming the spiritual center of Gugark. St. Amenprkich belongs to the cross-domed church types. In the floor plan, there are two-story storage rooms in the four corners of the cross-shaped prayer hall. The interior of the church was covered with frescoes, with few traces preserved. In the eastern facade of the church, in a rectangular niche, there is a high sculpture of the priest, where the church founder, Queen Khosrovanuysh’s sons are represented- Gurgen (Kyurike) and Smbat. They are depicted full-length, standing face to face, holding the church model.

To the East of St. Astvatsatsin Church is St. Grigor church. It is a small-scale building with a central dome, round on the outside, quadrangular on the inside, with a cross plan. It was built in 1061 by Queen Hranush, daughter of Davit Anhoghin. The scriptorium – library was also built by Queen Hranush in 1063. In the construction record, it is called the communion house, because both books and manuscripts, as well as the monastery’s valuable items, communion bread, and relics were stored here. All the problems related to the intact preservation of the books and manuscripts, lighting, ventilation, and temperature stability are taken into account in the design of the scriptorium.

Theological school. It is traditionally called Seminary after Grigor Magistros Pahlavuni. It is located between St. Amenprkich and St. Astvatsatsin churches.

Sanahin Bridge is the largest single-span bridge (18.6 m) among dozens of Lori bridge-monuments. It is located in the town of Alaverdi, on the Debed River, on the way to Sanahin Monastery. It was built by Kyurikian Queen Vaneni at the end of the XII century in the memory of her late husband King Abbas Bagratuni. There are bas-relief of lions at the four corners of the stepped parapets, as guardian emblems. Many archaeological materials were found as a result of the complex excavations conducted in the recent years; among them the facades with cross iconography are noteworthy. Many epitaphs, considered as an important source of information about the monastery activity, are exceptional among the findings.

🌍 Significance

Sanahin monastery complex was included in UNESCO world cultural “Register of Values” in 2001

📜 Traditional legends

The name Sanahin is explained by popular etymology as this from him meaning from Hagpat, old.

📚 Sources

Literature

Divan of the Armenian lithography 2012, Lori region, study IX, compiled by S. Barkhudaryan, K. Ghafadaryan, S. Saghumyan, Yerevan, “Science”, 612 pages.
Ghafadaryan K. 1957, Sanahin Monastery and its Inscriptions, Yerevan, USSR Academy of the Sciences ed., 209 pages.
Shakhkyan G. 1986, Lori. the stone pages of history, Yerevan, “Hayastan”, 184 pages.
Khalpakhchyan O. 1973, Sanahin: Architectural ensemble of Armenia of the X-XIII centuries, Moscow, ‹‹Art››, 89 p.

📷 Gallery

The plan of the main structures of the monastery (Ghafadaryan 1957, 17)
St. Amenaprkich Monastery (A. Nalbandian)
The high sculpture of St. Amenprakchich Church founder, Queen Khosrovanuysh’s sons – Gurgen (Kuryke) and Smbat, (website of “Historical-Cultural Museum-Reserve and Service for the Protection of Historical Environment” SNOC”
St. Grigor Church (D. Grigoryan)
The belfry of St. Astvatsatsin Church (D. Grigoryan)
The spring of the Sanahin monastery (the website of the “Historical-Cultural Museum-Reserve and Service for the Protection of Historical Environment” SNOC)
St. Jacob’s Church after excavations (A. Nalbandian)
St. Harutyun Church before the excavations (A. Nalbandian)
The tomb of St. Harutyun Church after excavations (A. Nalbandian)
The Sanahin bridge (website of “Historical-Cultural Museum-Reserve and Service for the Protection of Historical Environment”)
One of the lion sculptures of the Sanahin bridge (website of “Historical-Cultural Museum-Reserve and Service for the Protection of Historical Environment” SNOC)