Teghenyats Monastery

Name: Teghenyats monastery
Monument type: Church and Monastic Complex
Region: Kotayk Province
Periods: Medieval

Name: Teghenyats Monastery

Monument type: Church and Monastic Complex

Region: Kotayk

Community: Nairi

Residence: Buzhakan village

Location: 3 km north of Buzhakan, southern foothills of the Tsaghkunyats mountain range, at the confluence of Araget and its tributary, southern edge of the plateau, in a wooded area. Access by SUV or hiking.

Preservation: Tumbled-down, partially restored

Coordinates: 40°29´02˝N 44°31´29˝E

Altitude: 2100 m

Era and chronology: VII-XVII centuries, from the Early Middle Ages to the Late Middle Ages.

Teghenyats vank: Guardian of Knowledge and Faith

As you stand amidst the whispering trees and ancient stones, you’ll feel the echoes of centuries gone by at Teghenyats Monastery, with its rich history, architectural splendors, and cultural significance awaiting discovery.

Teghenyats Monastery’s name is steeped in legend, deriving from the teghi tree, a symbol of this sacred place. Like the monastery itself, the teghi tree stands as a symbol of endurance and resilience, its roots deeply embedded in the soil of Armenia’s spiritual heritage.

As you step on this sacred ground and allow this monastery to share its secrets with you, you will become enraptured by the timeless stories it holds, transported through time to a realm where the past and present intertwine.

Nestled amidst the lush forests of the Kotayk region in Armenia, the Teghenyats Monastery, locally as knownTeghenyats Vank, is a remarkable ensemble of ecclesiastical structures dating back to the 7th to 17th centuries. This sacred site, perched at an elevation of 2100 meters, is located just 3 kilometers north of Buzhakan village, at the southern foothills of the Tsaghkunyats mountain range. To reach this serene haven, visitors can embark on an adventurous journey either by SUV or through invigorating hiking trails, winding through the picturesque landscape.

Throughout its illustrious history, Teghenyats Monastery served as a beacon of education and religious devotion. It was in the 12th century that the rules of the monastery’s liturgy laid the foundation for a new liturgical timetable, a testament to its profound influence on the Armenian Church. The monastery’s significance transcends religious boundaries; it’s a symbol of Armenia’s rich cultural heritage and its commitment to the pursuit of knowledge.

Archaeological explorations reveal the layers of history that lie beneath the surface of Teghenyats Monastery. The earliest structure, a small cruciform church from the 7th century, provides a glimpse into the monastery’s ancient origins. However, it was during the 12th and 13th centuries that the monastery flourished, with new buildings constructed, the congregation expanded, and a scriptorium established. This period marked a zenith of spiritual enlightenment and intellectual pursuit, with renowned scholars and teachers of the Middle Ages imparting wisdom within the monastery’s hallowed halls.

The Teghenyats Monastery complex boasts a stunning array of architectural wonders, including the Katoghike church, the vestibule, the scriptorium, and the refectory. The Katoghike church, in particular, stands out with its intricate decorations, featuring a unique peacock bas-relief symbolizing immortality, a rarity in sculptural art.

The scriptorium, a rectangular vaulted structure, is a testament to the intellectual fervor that once thrived here. It served as a hub of scholarly activity and creative expression. Nearby, the vestibule, or Gavit, built in 1207, is a grand central hall adorned with sculptural friezes and two-toned stone paving, showcasing the mastery of Armenian craftsmen.

Teghenyats Monastery is not only a treasure trove of history but also a repository of archaeological finds. Among the discoveries are architectural details, fragments of khachkars (cross-stones), approximately 40 lithographs, pottery, glass, and metal artifacts. These relics whisper stories of a bygone era, waiting to be unraveled by inquisitive minds.

FACTS

❈ Teghenyats Monastery in Armenia, at 2100 meters elevation, is a historical and cultural gem from the 7th to 17th centuries.

❈ It was a center of education and religious devotion, influencing the Armenian Church’s liturgy in the 12th century.

❈ Archaeological findings reveal the monastery’s rich history, from its 7th-century origins to a flourishing period of spiritual enlightenment in the 12th and 13th
centuries.

❈ The complex includes the Katoghike church with a unique peacock bas-relief, a scriptorium, a grand vestibule, and a refectory.

❈ It holds numerous archaeological relics, including architectural details, khachkar fragments, lithographs, pottery, glass, and metal artifacts, offering a glimpse into the past.

🔍 Research history

The first descriptions of the monument were made by XIX-XX century topographers and historians (H. Shahkhatuniants, G. Alishan, tH. Yeghiazaryan, V.M. Petrosyants). Before the excavations, the vestibule and the refectory were semi-standing among the buildings of the monument group, which were studied by architects S. Mnatsakanyan and H. Khalpakkhyan. Due to the excavations led by lithographer G.G. Sargsyan in 1979-1989 and 2008-2011, other structures of the monastery that appeared under a thick layer of rubble and soil were revealed: the Katoghike church, the library, the second vestibule, VII century church, and the buildings adjacent to the refectory and the second vestibule. G.G. Sargsyan’s extensive monograph presenting the history and culture of the monastery will be published soon.

🧱 Archaeological description

Location
It is located in a clearing surrounded by forest. 200 m north of the main group of monuments, in the forest the cemetery spreads. Another cemetery with animal-shaped tombstones and the remains of a settlement is located 50m south-west of the complex.

Stratigraphy
Tegenyats Monastery is one of the prominant spiritual and educational centers of medieval Armenia. Bibliographic sources mention 20s of the VIII century, when Prince Vahan Goghtnetsi took refuge in the monastery from the pursuit of an Arab policeman. The earliest structure of the monastery complex is the 7th century four-altar, small cruciform church, the foundation walls of which were completely opened by excavations. The prospering period of the monastery is the 12-13th centuries, when the main buildings were built, the congregation was expanded, and a scriptorium was established. The history of the monastery dating back to the XIII-XIV centuries is connected with the Vachutian dynasty. In the XIII-XIV centuries there was a spiritual high school in the monastery, where outstanding teachers and scientists of the Middle Ages taught. The monastery is not mentioned in written sources after the middle of the XIV century, but the late medieval samples found in the archaeological collection claim about its further life. A part of the monument group buildings revealed by excavations, was partially fixed and restored during 2010-2015.

Architecture
The complex consists of the Katoghike church, the vestibule, “second vestibule”, the scriptorium, refectory, and other monastic structures. 30 m east of the main group of monuments is located the VII century four- altar church.

The Kathoghike church is a domed hall with a pair of pylons, and vestries on both sides of the Upper Tabernacle. The main entrance opens into a vestibule. The stage of the altar stands out in the Katoghike church decoration, consisting of six carved slabs with different motifs. Sculptural compositions are exceptional for their great craftsmanship. The central slab with a peacock bas-relief stands out for its uniqueness. The depiction of a peacock carrying the idea of immortality is common in Armenian miniatures, but unique in sculptural art.

The Scriptorium is a rectangular, pillarless vaulted structure adjacent to the Katoghoke church from the south, with four cells divided by ramparts on the eastern side, and a rectangular room separated on the south-western side. The main entrance is on the south front with a prominent porch. From the northern entrance it faces the Katoghike Church, and the north-western inner entrance opens into the vestibule.

Gavit (the vestibule) was built in 1207 with the support of Vahram Chavush. It adjoins the Katoghike Church from the west.

It is a four-pillar large central hall with a vaulted roof. The central square was crowned with a dome having a vent hole. Inside, the corners of the octagonal dome base are decorated with amethyst decoration, between which the walls have a checkerboard arrangement with two-colored stones. The base of the dome is encircled by chain-shaped, woven sculptural friezes. The entrance is from the west, enclosed in a rectangular frame. The facade is formed by a radial arrangement of black and grayish-yellow tuff stones. Two-tone stone paving enlivens the monotonous interior and exterior walls of the vestibule.

The “second vestibule” opened by excavations is adjacent to the northern wall of the first vestibule. It replicates the composition of the first one in shape and size. Perhaps, it was the study hall or library of the monastery. Later it was reconstructed to serve for economic purposes. To the east of the “second vestibule” a large residential-economic room was revealed by excavations with a fireplace with an arrow-shaped top on the northeastern side.

The dining room (refectory) is on the north-western side of the complex. It is a rectangular elongated walled building, of which only the northern facade has been preserved, in the other parts the foundation walls were opened by excavations. The structural parts of the refectory – corners, columns, arches – are built with hewn basalt stones, and the walls between the arches are lined with rough small and medium stones. It has two entrances on the south-eastern and north-eastern sides. Residential and economic rooms with rich archaeological material were revealed by excavations on the southern side of the refectory.

🔨 Findings

Architectural details, fragments of khachkars, about 40 lithographs, pottery, glass and metal finds.

🌍 Significance

Teghenyats monastery was a famous center of education and writing. It is also important in the history of the Armenian Church. In the 12th century, the rules of the monastery liturgy became the basis for the creation of a new timetable by Catholicos Nerses.

📜 Traditional legends

The name of Tegheniats monastery comes from the name of the teghi tree.

📚 Sources

Literature

Petrosyants V.M. 1988, Historical-architectural monuments of Nig-Aparan, Yerevan, “Armenia”, 88 pages.
Babajanyan A., Mirijanyan D. 2013, Pottery of Tegheniats Monastery, Historical and Philosophical Journal, N1, p. 134-150.
Sargsyan G.G. 1990, The Excavations of Tegheniats Monastery, Historical Journal, N2, 174-190.

List of monuments
Kotayk 6.20/12