Karvajar (Kalbajar) province

SURB ASTVATZATZIN VANK (HOLY VIRGIN MONASTERY)

This monastery is situated at the right bank of the Trtu, in the point of its confluence with the tributary Iritsajur, which flows through the narrow canyon of Igadzor. The monastery was built immediately at the right riverbank, on a smooth terrace, surrounded by rather steep woody mountains. Although the monastery was founded in the XII cent., it was perpetually expanding by addition of new structures till the XVII century.

In the opinion of T. Abdullayev (see his report made in 1982), naturally ungrounded, this monastery complex is an Albanian monument. During my trip of 1987, I copied all of the thirteen epigraphic inscriptions found in situ, preserving their palaeography. The results of this research were published in 1989. Years passed. By clear reasons, before April 1993 there was no access to the territory of Kalbajar, particularly to the monastery of Surb Astavatzatzin. The scene of vandalism we saw after the liberation of the region in June 1993, is difficult to describe. Almost all epigraphic inscriptions made on various monastery structures (included inscriptions on the wall plastering and stone facing, or khachkars), which we saw and copied five years ago, were ruthlessly erased. Nothing was left of such valuable epigraphic monuments as building, donatory or renovation inscriptions, or other inscriptions of exceptional historic value.

The church opposite the Holy Virgin monastery, at the left bank of the Trtu (Tartar) seen from southwwest

    The earliest section of the complex consists of several linked buildings extending in east-west direction. Two of them are rather small churches (external dimensions: 4.50x3.60 m and 6.60x4.70 m), two others consist of a columnar hall (5.0x4.80 m), and a churchporch linked to it.
    Except for the church-porch three other structures are still standing, even though they are weathered. All of the structures were built of coarse stone and mortar, the interior was plastered.
    In conformity with the building inscription of 6 lines made on the facing, the oldest church of the complex was built in 1174.



	Surb Astvatzatzin Vank (Holy Virgin monastery). Chapel (XII Cent) in the southwestern part of the monastery (seen from northwest and northeast). New church of the monastery seen from the southeast and west. Apse of the old church (1174). Interior of the new church (eastwards direction).

    The second building inscription was fragmented and displaced, it might, probably, belong to the second structure, resembling à chapel or à small church, situated to the southeast of the former. It contained five lines.
    Up to 1989 there were two finely carved inscribed khachkars standing in situ near each, other at the entrance to a small church. Unfortunately, not even a trace of them had been preserved in 1993.
    Several donatory inscription of great historical value were also destroyed during 1989-1992.
    A few displaced and badly fragmented khachkars with inscriptions are scattered within the territory of the monument.
    12-13 m southwards of the old monastery churches there are later structures with a large threenave basilica (17.0x11.60 m) in the centre. Its gabled roof is supported by a pair of thick pilasters from the inside. Unlike the old churches of the complex it is provided by sacristies on both sides of the altar apse and a reservoir in the northern wall. The ruins of a little parvis (8.40x7.40 m) and another supplemental building were linked to the western side of the basilica. Neither of these buildings contained any epigraphic inscriptions, thought judging from their constructive and compositional peculiarities they may be definitely dated by the XVII cent. The southwestern section of the complex consists of a chapel built in the XII-XIII cent., and ruins of monastery structures extending along the southern side.



Surb Astvatzatzin (Holy Virgin monastery). Oldest structures seen from southwest. Hall seen from the south. Old paris (XII Cent) seen from the west. The church (XII Cent) from southwest. Khachkar in the destroyed monastery graveyard. Khachkars ruined during 1989-1992 (photograph of 1987).

Another vaulted church with a parvis annexed to its western wall (external dimensions: 14.30x5.0 m), is still standing at the opposite bank of the Trtu, approximately 400 m northwest of Surb Astvatzatzna Vank, at the bottom of steep high rocks. In spite of the absence of any inscriptions the monument may be doubtlessly dated by the XII-XIII cent.

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