Surp Hovhannes Church (; translates to the "Church of
Saint John") is an important 10th century
basilica
In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica (Greek Basiliké) was a large public building with multiple functions that was typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek Eas ...
located in the village of
Byurakan
Byurakan () is a village in the Ashtarak Municipality of the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia, located on the slope of Mount Aragats. The village is home to several historical sites including the 7th-century Artavazik Church, the 10th-century bas ...
in the
Aragatsotn Province
Aragatsotn (, ) is a administrative divisions of Armenia, province (''Marz (country subdivision), 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 Sta ...
of
Armenia
Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...
. Not very far away from S. Hovhannes in the same village, are the ruins of the
Artavazik Church of the 7th century with a huge 13th-century khachkar monument directly across the ravine from the structure.
Architecture
Surp Hovhannes has two portals that lead into the building. The main entrance is from the side of the church, and has an inscription upon the lintel above the portal. Indications of the structure's age can be seen in the temple style steps leading up to S. Hovhannes and the
Maltese Cross
The Maltese cross is a cross symbol, consisting of four " V" or arrowhead shaped concave quadrilaterals converging at a central vertex at right angles, two tips pointing outward symmetrically.
It is a heraldic cross variant which develope ...
es carved into the façade.
Khachkar
A ''khachkar'' (also spelled as ''khatchkar'') or Armenian cross-stone (, , խաչ ''xačʿ'' "cross" + քար ''kʿar'' "stone") is a carved, memorial stele bearing a cross, and often with additional motifs such as rosette (design), rosettes ...
s and other decorative stones may be found around the premises.
Gallery
Image:Map of Amberd.gif, Road map of Byurakan and surrounding region.
Image:Byurakan S. Hovannes1.JPG, Front view
Image:Byurakan S. Hovannes3.JPG,
Image:Byurakan S. Hovannes4.JPG, View of the church bells and upper story windows
Image:Byurakan S. Hovhannes Rear2.JPG, Rear of the basilica with portal.
Image:Byurakan S. Hovhannes Interior.JPG, Interior of the basilica.
Image:Բյուրականի Ս. Հովհաննես եկեղեցի 21.JPG, Khachkar with twelve arms (below cross) representing the Twelve Apostles
In Christian theology and ecclesiology, the apostles, particularly the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Twelve Disciples or simply the Twelve), were the primary disciples of Jesus according to the New Testament. During the life and minist ...
at the Last Supper
Image:The Last Supper - Leonardo Da Vinci - High Resolution 32x16.jpg, 400px, alt=''The Last Supper'' by Leonardo da Vinci - Clickable Image, ''The Last Supper (Leonardo), The Last Supper'' (1495-1498). Mural, tempera on gesso, pitch and mastic ...
Image:Byurakan Khachkar.JPG, Unusual pillar style khachkar with a Maltese Cross located down the road from the church.
References
Bibliography
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External links
Armeniapedia.org: Byurakan Church
{{Armenian Churches
Armenian Apostolic churches in Armenia
Tourist attractions in Aragatsotn Province
Churches in Aragatsotn Province
10th-century churches in Armenia