Vahanavank Monastery

Name: Vahanavank
Monument type: Church- Monastic Complex
Region: Syunik Province
Periods: Medieval

Name Vahanavank

Other nomination Monument type Monastery complex

Region Syunik

Community Kapan

Residence About 7 km south-west of the Kapan town, forested area

Location The monastery complex is located along the right bank of the Voghji river, on the slope of Tigranasar.

Preservation St. Astvatsatsin Church, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, the vestibule adjacent to it were partially and the colonnade completely restored in the monastery territory during the Soviet years and as a result of the 2006-2009 restoration works.

Coordinates 390 13′ 04.49” N 46o19’57.38” E

Altitude 1110 m

Era and chronology The monastery complex dates back to the X-XI centuries, High Middle Ages. It consists of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church (911year), the vestibule, the arched colonnade (mid-XI century), and the two-story Church of St. Astvatsatsin (St. Virgin Mary) (1086).

Vahanavank: A Neverending Legacy of History and Spirituality

As you visit this enchanting corner of Armenia’s Syunik region, prepare to embark on a journey through time, where history and legend converge to unveil the secrets of Vahanavank.

As you wander through the time-worn corridors of this 10th-century monastic complex and explore its hidden treasures, you’ll inevitably forge a profound connection with the monks, rulers, and visionaries who once called this place home.

Their whispers, chanting melodies in your ears, will unite your soul with the essence of this historical gem, and your eyes will marvel at its ethereal beauty.

Located approximately 7 kilometers southwest of the town of Kapan, amidst the serene and forested landscapes of the Syunik region in Armenia, the Vahanavank Monastery Complex is is a treasure trove of architectural marvels, spiritual significance, and archaeological wonders perched at an altitude of 1110 meters on the verdant slopes of Tigranasar.

The heart of Vahanavank is the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, its construction completed in the year 911. This church, with its stunning dome and architectural elegance, serves as the centerpiece of the complex. Built from meticulously hewn basalt, it stands as a symbol of the skill and craftsmanship of the time.

Adjacent to the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church is the vestibule, known as the gavit. This rectangular, vaulted hall, adorned with three vaulted arches, bears the mark of the middle of the XI century. It is a place where the faithful once gathered to seek solace and spiritual enlightenment.

A short distance away, on a hillside, you can find the St. Astvatsatsin Church, a two-story marvel constructed in 1086 by Syunyats Queen Shahandukht and her sister Kata. This unique tomb-church consists of a lower mausoleum and an upper church, adding a layer of architectural complexity and historical depth to Vahanavank.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Vahanavank is its rich collection of inscriptions, many of which adorn khachkars and tombstones. These lithographs bear witness to the fact that Vahanavank was a revered resting place for the royalty and nobility of the Syunyat and Aghvan realms. It was a place where generations found their eternal repose, and where the memory of their lives and deeds lived on through the ages.

Vahanavank also has a deeper historical significance as a spiritual, educational, and cultural center of the Syunyats. A monastic school operated within its vicinity, nurturing the minds of scholars and clergy. One notable figure who emerged from this educational tradition was Catholicos Vahan A. Syunetsi, a testament to the monastery’s profound influence.

Archaeological excavations have unearthed various artifacts, including metal smelting furnaces, pottery, metal and glass vessels, and an array of cross-stones. These discoveries offer a glimpse into the daily lives of the monks who once resided here, shedding light on their diet, customs, and practices.

As visitors explore the hallowed grounds of Vahanavank, they not only step into the past but also encounter the legends that have been passed down through generations. Among these legends is the belief that Davit Bek, the legendary leader of Syunik’s liberation struggle in the 17th century, rests in eternal repose within the sanctuary of Vahanavank.

FACTS

Vahanavank Monastery Complex, located in Armenia’s Syunik region, stands at an altitude of 1110 meters on the slopes of Tigranasar, offering a treasure trove of architectural marvels, spiritual significance, and archaeological wonders.
The centerpiece of Vahanavank is the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, completed in 911, showcasing stunning dome architecture crafted from meticulously hewn basalt.
Adjacent to the church is the gavit, a vaulted hall from the 11th century where the faithful gathered for solace and spiritual enlightenment.

The two-story St. Astvatsatsin Church, built in 1086, adds architectural complexity and historical depth to the complex.
Vahanavank’s rich collection of inscriptions on khachkars and tombstones attests to its significance as a resting place for royalty and nobility, while its history as a spiritual, educational, and cultural center is reflected in its monastic school and archaeological discoveries. Legends also surround the site, including the belief that Davit Bek, a 17th-century leader, is buried within its sanctuary.

Research history

Historian Stepanos Orbelyan and Armenologist Ghevond Alishan thoroughly touched on the monastery complex. Since 1966, for about forty years, excavations have been regularly carried out in the monastery territory by the expedition of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences (led by Dr. G. Grigoryan).

Archaeological description

Location
Vahanavank was the spiritual, educational and cultural center of the Syunyats world. Remains of a large cemetery, a spring and residential buildings have also been preserved in the monument group territory, testifying the existence of a once large monastic complex.

Architecture
It was founded at the beginning of the X century, on the initiative of Vahan, the youngest son of Dzagik, the reigning prince of Bagh province, Syunyats province; the monastery was named after him –Vahanavank.

St. Gregory the Illuminator Church is the main church of the complex. The construction of the structure was completed in 911. It is domed version of the halls with a pair of storage rooms on the western side. Vahanavank church is among the earliest examples of the mentioned version. Of the two church entrances, the western one opens into the vestibule, and the southern one into the vaulted hall. It is built of hewn basalt.

Gavit (the vestibule) was built by the Vahanavank abbot and Syunyats Metropolitan Vahan Jevanshiryan in the middle of the XI century. It is a rectangular, vaulted hall, stretching along the entire length of the church and vestibule with 3 vaulted arches. The main entrance is from the south and opens into the adjoining portico, attached to the vestibule to the south. All these structures are tiled.

St. Astvatsatsin two-story church is located south of the monastery complex, on a hillside. According to the record, the church was built in 1086 by Syunyats Queen Shahandukht with her sister Kata. It is among the two-story tomb-churches. The first floor is built as a mausoleum, and the church building rises on it. It is a vaulted, small, single-nave church with a colonnaded porch to the north and east. The dimensions of the church are smaller than those of the first-floor crypt, resulting in a bypass platform on the northern and eastern sides. It is built of hewn basalt. The vestibule built with rough stones is in the western part. Vahanavank is rich in inscriptions. The lithographs preserved on numerous khachkars and tombstones testify that Vahanavank was the resting place of the royal and princely families of the Syunyat and Aghvan world. A monastic school operated next to Vahanavank, where Catholicos Vahan A. Syunetsi studied. According to the lithographic information, there were two more churches in the monastery territory: St. Harutyun and St. Zion – their location has not been determined yet.

All the buildings included in the Vahanavank complex are built with large-sized, rough and reddish-yellow basalt, the mine of which is located about 200m north of the monuments, on the hillside.

🔨 Findings

Metal smelting furnaces were found as a result of the excavations, where some parts of the church utensils were probably cast. Unglazed and glazed pottery, metal and glass vessels, as well as many complete and fragmentary cross-stones were also found in the monastery complex.

Significance

It is one of the unique monasteries, where the various and numerous findings found as a result of the archaeological works lasted about forty years, provide important information about the life of the monastery complex, the lifestyle of the monks, the dishes used, and the meals. The resort of the monastery complex also provides a lot of information about the princes and kings.

📜 Traditional legends

According to the legend spread among the locals, Davit Bek (1669-1728), the leader of Syunik’s liberation struggle, is buried in Vahanavank.

Sources

Literature

Stepanos Orbelyan 1910, History of Sisakan province, Tiflis, N. Aghaniantsi printing house, 619 pages.
Divan of the Armenian lithography 1960, Prak 2, Goris, Sisian and Ghapan regions, compiled by S. Barkhudaryan, Yerevan, USSR Academy of the Sciences ed., 143 pages.
Ghevond Alishan 1893, Sisakan. Topography of Syunyats world, Venice-St. Lazarus, 563 pages.
Grigoryan G. 2007, Vahanavank, Yerevan, “Zangak-97”, 192 pages.

List of monuments

Syunik 8.1.9.7

📷 Gallery

The plan of the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church (Grigoryan 2007, 27).
The shield during restoration (Grigoryan 2007, salt. V).
Vahanavank from the south (photo by D. Mirijanyan).
The main church and colonnade (photo by A. Nalbandyan).
Restored Coat of Arms (photo by A. Nalbandian).
St. Astvatsatsin Church (photo by D. Mirijanyan).
St. Astvatsatsin two-story tomb-church (photo by A. Nalbandian).
A part of the colonnade of the shield (photo by A. Nalbandyan).
The jars found during the excavations (Grigoryan 2007, salt. XVIII).
The sculptured and lithographed fragments discovered by excavations (Grigoryan 2007, salt. XIV).