The Saghmosavank ( hy, Սաղմոսավանք,
lit. "monastery of the
Psalms
The Book of Psalms ( or ; he, תְּהִלִּים, , lit. "praises"), also known as the Psalms, or the Psalter, is the first book of the ("Writings"), the third section of the Tanakh, and a book of the Old Testament. The title is derived ...
") is a 13th-century
Armenian
Armenian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent
** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...
monastic complex located in the village of
Saghmosavan
Saghmosavan ( hy, Սաղմոսավան, also Romanized as Sagmosavan) is a town in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. The town is the site of the Saghmosavank Monastery (the "Monastery of Psalms") with Saint Sion church, built in 1215.
Popul ...
in the
Aragatsotn Province
Aragatsotn ( hy, Արագածոտն, ) is a province ('' marz'') of Armenia. It is located in the western part of the country. The capital and largest city of the province is the town of Ashtarak. The Statistical Committee of Armenia reported i ...
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 ' ...
. Like the
Hovhannavank monastery which is five kilometers south, Saghmosavank is situated atop the precipitous gorge carved by the
Kasagh river
Kasagh () is a river in the west-central region of modern Armenia which flows north to south. It originates near Mount Aragats in Aragatsotn province, flows south into Armavir province and into the Metsamor, which itself is a tributary of the ...
. Their silhouettes dominate the adjacent villages and rise sharp against the background of the mountains crowned by
Mount Aragats
Mount Aragats ( hy, Արագած, ) is an isolated four-peaked volcano massif in Armenia. Its northern summit, at above sea level, is the highest point of the Lesser Caucasus and Armenia. It is also one of the highest points in the Armenian ...
.
[Architectural Ensembles of Armenia" O. Khalpakhchian, published in Moscow by Iskusstvo Publishers in 1980]
The main structures of the monasteries erected by Prince Vache Vachutyan—the Church of Zion in Saghmosavank (1215) and the Church of Karapet in Hovhannavank (1216-1221)—belong to the same type of cross-winged domed structure with two-floor annexes in all the corners of the building. Subcupola space predominates in the interiors of both churches, which is reflected in the exterior shapes of these structures.
Gallery
File:Saghmosavank 2015-1.jpg
File:Saghmosavank 2015-3.jpg
File:Saghmosavank by Armenak Baghdasaryan photo.jpg
Image:Սաղմոսավանք.JPG
Image:Saghmosavank kev.jpg
Image:Saghmosavank, gavit.jpg
File:Saghmosavank 2015-4.jpg
File:Saghmosavank 2015-5.jpg
Image:Saghmosavank, gavit cupola.jpg
See also
*
Hovhannavank
References
External links
About Saghmosavank
Oriental Orthodox congregations established in the 13th century
Christian monasteries in Armenia
Christian monasteries established in the 13th century
Buildings and structures in Aragatsotn Province
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