The villages Yeritsushen and Igadzor are situated at the left bank of a stream flowing out of the lake Gortagarak (Iritsajur), that passes through the deep gorge. Both villages are surrounded by thick forests and are built in smaller ravines along the streams (especially Igadzor).     There are no written records relating Igadzor as a whole, but one of the quarters of this once flourishing village was mentioned as an estate donated to the Holy Virgin convent (Surb Astvatzatzin), in the donatory inscription discovered 4 km southwest of the village, near the confluence of the Trtu and Igadzor, Igadzor was actually divided to several quarters since the Middle Ages. This was witnessed by another inscription of Surb Astvatatzin convent, which, though undated, manifested apparent paleographic features characteristic of the XII-XIIIcent.

Igadzor.

Igadzor. Fragmented khachkars of the XII-XIII Cent.
Yeritsushen. The church seen from southwest. Interrior of the church seen from east.

A single nave basilica (external dimensions 14.2x7.6 m) though partially destroyed is up to now standing in the upper end of the village, at the right bank of Iritsajur. The vault of that church covered by a gabled roof was supported from the inside by span arches based on two pairs of pilasters. There were sacristies by both sides of the altar apse. The only entrance was made in the southern wall. With the exception of the span arches and pilasters, which were made of hewed stone, other parts of the church were built of coarse stone. The walls were totally plastered inside but the plastering had now mostly decayed. There were three khachkars fastened into the interior walls. Two of them were large, finely carved and executed in the similar style as if by one and the same artisan. These two crosses were fastened into the northern and southern walls of the church, at the entrance to the sacrisities. The khachkar in the northern wall and fortunately, even dated. Chronologically the oldest is the khachkar fastened near the pilaster (dimensions:68x46 cm). It is rather simple. A stylised Life tree in thecentre turns into a cross, with wine grapes by both sides of the upper part of the cross.     The second inscribed khachkar (dimensions: 2.40x1.20 cm), beneath the baptistery was very impressive. Double rosettes made of whiskered geometrical ornaments in the lower part, divide the stone in the centre to two parts framed by three whiskered decorative belts. Two finely carved elaborate crosses are located within such frames. The cross wings are surrounded by vinegrapes and other symbols of fertility. The inscription was engraved both in the upper part of the khachkars (4 lines) and in lower part (5 short lines).     The beautiful khachkar built into the southern wall deserves interest though it is uninscribed (dimensions: 2.00x90 cm). Its characteristic peculiarity is the relief of; in armor-clad rider. Compositionally and by execution technique it resembles many other khachkars with riders round in the province of Khachen (Koshik Anapat, Gandzasar, Okhte Yeghtsi, etc.). Based on the comparative material this khachkar may be dated by the beginning of the XIIIcent., while the church was built in the XVIIcent. That is to say the Armenians lived in Yeritsushen at least from the XII and to the middle of the XVIII cent.

Yeritsushen. Khachkars fastened into the interior walls of the church: 1. 1196; 2. 1222; 3. XII-XIII Cent.