Matosavank ( hy, Մաթոսավանք) is 13th-century small Armenian monastery, hidden in a forested area of
Dilijan National Park
Dilijan National Park is one of the four national parks of Armenia. Occupying an area of 240 km², it is located in the north-eastern Tavush Province of Armenia. It is known for its forest landscapes, rich biodiversity, medicinal mineral water ...
3 km northwest from the town of
Dilijan
Dilijan ( hy, Դիլիջան) is a spa town and urban municipal community in the Tavush Province of Armenia. The town is one of the most important resorts in Armenia, situated within the Dilijan National Park. The forested town is home to num ...
in the
Tavush Province
Tavush ( hy, Տավուշ, ) is a province of Armenia located at the northeast of Armenia, bordered by Georgia from the north and Azerbaijan from the east. Internally, Tavush borders the Gegharkunik Province from the south, Kotayk Province from ...
of
Armenia
Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ' ...
. It sits close to the monastery of
Jukhtak Vank as well as to a nearby cemetery. The church is currently in ruins and is relatively difficult to find since trail markers are often misleading.
Matosavank was constructed with the oversight of
Avag, the son of
Ivane of the
Mkhargrdzeli dynasty after having vowed his submission to the
Mongol invading armies. He later became the military leader of Georgian and Armenian combined forces under
Möngke Khan
Möngke ( mn, ' / Мөнх '; ; 11 January 1209 – 11 August 1259) was the fourth khagan-emperor of the Mongol Empire, ruling from 1 July 1251, to 11 August 1259. He was the first Khagan from the Toluid line, and made significant reform ...
, the fourth
Great Khan
Khagan or Qaghan (Mongolian:; or ''Khagan''; otk, 𐰴𐰍𐰣 ), or , tr, Kağan or ; ug, قاغان, Qaghan, Mongolian Script: ; or ; fa, خاقان ''Khāqān'', alternatively spelled Kağan, Kagan, Khaghan, Kaghan, Khakan, Khakhan ...
of the
Mongol Empire.
Architecture
The small church of Surb Astvatsatsin of Pghndzahank was built in 1247 and actually consists of two adjoining churches. It was constructed from roughly hewn stones that have been overlaid with
plaster
Plaster is a building material used for the protective or decorative coating of walls and ceilings and for moulding and casting decorative elements. In English, "plaster" usually means a material used for the interiors of buildings, while "re ...
within the interior of the building. Rooms include a main hall, book depositories, a
portico and each have vaulted ceilings that still stand mostly intact. The western walls of the church sit adjacent to the portico, whereas the southern wall at the altar joins the book depository. Upon the exterior of the structure there is an inscription that tells about the foundation of the church. Some of the tile roofing can still be seen.
Gallery
Image:Dilijan-city-map.svg, Map showing Matosavank in relation to Dilijan.
Image:Matosavank Inscription.JPG, Exterior view of Matosavank
Image:Matosavank Interior Inscription.JPG, Inscription written upon the interior tympanum of S. Astvatsatsin of Pghndzahank
References
Bibliography
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External links
Armeniapedia: Matosavank Monastery
Buildings and structures completed in 1247
Religious buildings and structures completed in 1247
Christian monasteries in Armenia
Tourist attractions in Tavush Province
Buildings and structures in Tavush Province
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