Tsaghats Kar 1

Name: Tsaghats Kar 1
Monument type: Church- Monastic Complex
Region: Vayots Dzor Province
Periods: Medieval

Name: Tsaghats kar

Other nomination: Ghoshavank (twin monastery)

Monument type: Monastery complex

Region: Vayots Dzor

Community: Yeghegis

Residence: Artabuynq village

Location: About 6 km north-east of Artabuynq, the plateau at the end of one of the south-western spurs of the Vardenis mountain range. Access by SUV or hiking.

Preservation: The western group is partially destroyed, the eastern one is restored

Coordinates: 39°53’21.9″N 45°21’14.1″E

Elevation: 2075 m

Era and chronology: X-XVII centuries, from the High Middle Ages to the Late Middle Ages

Tsaghats Kar: A Treasure Trove of Armenian Monastic Heritage

Amidst the magnificent architecture and sculptures of Tsaghatskar, it becomes evident that you’re not merely surrounded by stone and mortar; you are, in fact, bearing witness to the profound spiritual devotion, unparalleled artistic genius, and the cultural opulence of Armenia.

This remarkable monastic complex has the power to transport you through the annals of history, allowing you to submerge yourself in the intricate nuances of medieval Armenian artistry, where grand architectural marvels seamlessly intertwine with intricate artistic creations, crafting an ethereal experience that transcends the boundaries of reality.

Nestled amid the enchanting landscapes of Vayots Dzor in the heart of Armenia lies Tsaghats Kar, a testament to the enduring spiritual and architectural legacy of this ancient land. This remarkable monastery complex, perched at an elevation of 2075 meters, has stood for centuries as a beacon of faith and artistic excellence.

Tsaghats Kar’s origins date back to the X-XVII centuries, spanning from the High Middle Ages to the Late Middle Ages. Its history is intertwined with the patronage of the Syunyats Vasakian princes, who nurtured its growth and development. Today, it stands as a symbol of medieval Armenian sculptural art and craftsmanship.

The complex is divided into two distinct groups of monuments, located on a high plateau approximately 150 meters apart. The western group, dating back to the X-XI centuries, boasts an array of architectural marvels, including eastern churches, colonnades, and vestibules arranged in an enclosed courtyard. The main church, St. Astvatsatsin, is a quadrangular, cross-domed structure adorned with vaults in the four corners. Its western entrance opens into a vaulted vestibule, possibly a library, with deep recesses along the northern wall. St. Hovhannes, a single-nave church with inscriptions dating to 989, sits at the southern end of this group. Recent excavations have revealed additional structures, such as the colonnade built in the XI century and a church attached to St. Astvatsatsin.

The eastern group of Tsaghats Kar is equally impressive, housing St. Karapet Church and the two-story chapel-tomb St. Nshan. These structures, built in 1041 by Master Vardik, exude architectural sophistication. St. Karapet is a domed hall with vaults at the four corners, characterized by a tall cylindrical drum crowned by a pointed gable. Its facades are adorned with intricate decorations, and sculptures of an eagle, lion, and bull adorn the southern and northern walls. St. Nshan, on the other hand, features a semi-underground first floor with a vaulted chapel and a rectangular hall-tomb. The chapel on the second floor, accessed from the northern hillside, is a marvel of architectural finesse.

The surrounding area is a testament to Tsaghats Kar’s spiritual significance, with an extensive cemetery adorned with numerous X-XVII-century khachkars. These intricately carved cross-stones are among the finest examples of Armenian khachkar art.

Tsaghats Kar’s rich history has been brought to light through archaeological excavations led by H. Melkonyan in 1986-1992. These efforts unearthed sculptured fragments, miniature church compositions, khachkars, and various church utensils, shedding new light on the monastery’s historical importance.

FACTS

❈ Tsaghats Kar, nestled in Vayots Dzor, Armenia, is a testament to the enduring spiritual and architectural legacy of the region, with an elevation of 2075 meters.

❈ Dating from the X-XVII centuries, Tsaghats Kar’s history is intertwined with the Syunyats Vasakian princes, representing medieval Armenian sculptural art and craftsmanship.

❈ The complex is divided into two groups of monuments. The western group, dating back to the X-XI centuries, features St. Astvatsatsin and St. Hovhannes churches, along with a colonnade and a vaulted vestibule.

❈ The eastern group houses St. Karapet Church and the two-story chapel-tomb St. Nshan, built in 1041, known for its architectural sophistication and intricate decorations.

❈ The extensive cemetery surrounding Tsaghats Kar features X-XVII-century khachkars, finely carved cross-stones, and archaeological excavations have unveiled the monastery’s historical importance, unearthing various artifacts and church utensils.

Research history

The monument was first described by topographical researchers in the XIX-XX centuries. (S. Jalalyants, Kajberuni, G. Alishan, Yer. Lalayan, H. Yeghiazaryan). The architecture and lithographs were accordingly studied by S. Mnatsakanyan and S. Barkhudaryan. Due to the excavations led by archaeologist H. Melkonyan in 1986-1992, the structures of the western group of the monastery were opened, 85 new lithographs were discovered. H. Melkonyan’s monograph dedicated to the monastery history and inscriptions will be published soon.

Archaeological description

Location
It consists of two groups of monuments built on a high plateau 150 m apart from each other.

Stratigraphy
XIII century historian Stepanos Orbelyan refers to Tsaghats Kar Monastery in relation to the V century post-Avarayr events, but during the excavations cultural layers and structures dating to the V-IX centuries were not found. According to Asoghik, the monastery was founded in the X century, during the reign of Abbas Bagratuni by Father Stepanos. From the two separate monument groups of the monastery, the western one was built earlier. The buildings of the western group were built during the X-XI centuries and according to the preserved inscriptions, they were repeatedly renovated in the XIII-XIV centuries. The buildings of the eastern group were built by Father Vardik in 1041. Due to the donations made by Orbelian, Proshian princes and others the economy of the monastery expanded in the XIII-XIV centuries. It is mentioned in the chronicle and lithographic sources until the XVII century.

Architecture
The western group consists of eastern churches, colonnades, vestibules arranged in an enclosed courtyard in a straight line: the eastern wall of the enclosure is the eastern wall of the complex. The main arched gate leads to the courtyard of the complex through a narrow corridor. Outside the wall, on the western side, there are ruins of residential buildings and an oil mill, as well as separate khachkars and tombstones.
The main church of the group is St. Astvatsatsin, a quadrangular, cross-domed structure with vaults in the four corners. The western entrance opens into a vaulted vestibule: its four battlements along the northern wall are connected by arches, creating large deep recesses in the wall. Perhaps it was the library. The southern entrance opens into a similar narrower, open-arched hall on the southern side.
St. Hovhannes single-nave church is situated at the southern end of this group with the two depositories located along the southern wall. An inscription dating to 989 has been preserved on the eastern wall. Entrances open on the western and southern facades.
Due to the excavations conducted in 1986-1992, the colonnade built in the XI century on the southern side of St. Hovhannes, the vestibule adjacent to the west, the church with a rectangular tabernacle attached to St. Astvatsatsin from the east, the church built on the gate were opened.
The eastern group consists of St. Karapet Church, the two-story chapel-tomb St. Nshan located on its eastern side, both built by Master Vardik in 1041.
St. Karapet is a version of a domed hall with vaults at the four corners, with a tall cylindrical drum crowned by a pointed gable. The southern and eastern facades have a pair of triangular niches. The external facades of the church, the frames and arches of the windows, and the rectangular porch of the only southern entrance crowned with a pediment, stand out with their emphasized decoration. The southern and northern facades are decorated with an eagle sculpture clawing its victim and a high sculpture representing a lion and a bull wrestling. The high stage of the Upper Tabernacle is decorated with high sculptures of jars placed in the arch.
The first floor of St. Nshan is semi-underground consisting of a vaulted chapel with a horseshoe-shaped apse and a rectangular hall-tomb on the western side with a star-shaped ceiling inside. The only entrance is on the western side with an arched facade. The chapel on the second floor is built over the vestibule. The entrance is from the northern hillside, from the first floor roof. The western facade is decorated with large sculptural cross stones placed on both sides of the double-arch niche. There are two khachkars erected in front of the St. Karapet entrance, which are among the best examples of Armenian khachkars. There are numerous X-XVII-century khachkars scattered around the extensive cemetery.
The structures of the eastern group were renovated in 2013.

🔨 Findings

Due to the excavations conducted in 1986-1992, sculptured fragments, parts of a church miniature composition, khachkars, hand crafted metal crosses and other samples of church utensils were found.

🌍 Significance

It was a famous monastery built under the patronage of Syunyats Vasakian princes. Tsaghats Kar architectural monuments with their exquisite decoration and sculptures, as well as khachkars, are among the best examples of the sculptural art of medieval Armenia

📚 Sources

Stepanos Orbelyan 1986, History of Syunik (translated by A. Abrahamyan), Yerevan, “Soviet writer”, 615 pages.
Yeghiazaryan H. 1970, Tsakhatskar Monastery or Ghoshavank and its Inscriptions, Etchmiadzin, N4, pp. 41-50.
Melkonyan H. 2001, Excavations of the Tsaghats Kar Monastery and newly discovered inscriptions, “Noravank” Armenian studies yearbook, B. ed., Montreal-Yerevan, pp. 84-98.
Mnatsakanyan S. 1960, Syunik School of Armenian Architecture, Yerevan, USSR State Publishing House, 267 pages.
Kajberuni 2003, Travel Notes, Yerevan, “Mughni”, 498 pages.

List of monuments

Vayots Dzor 11.10/9