Saint Mesrop Mashtots Church
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Saint Mesrop Mashtots Church ( hy, Սուրբ Մեսրոպ Մաշտոց եկեղեցի) is an
Armenian Apostolic , native_name_lang = hy , icon = Armenian Apostolic Church logo.svg , icon_width = 100px , icon_alt = , image = Էջմիածնի_Մայր_Տաճար.jpg , imagewidth = 250px , a ...
church in
Oshakan Oshakan ( hy, Օշական) is a major village in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia located 8 kilometers southwest from Ashtarak. It is well known to historians and pilgrims of the Armenian Apostolic Church as the site of the grave of Mesrop Mas ...
that contains the grave of
Mesrop Mashtots Mesrob or Mesrop ( hy, Մեսրոպ) is an Armenian given name. Mesrob / Mesrop may refer to: *Mesrop Mashtots, also Saint Mesrop, Armenian monk, theologian and linguist. Inventor of the Armenian alphabet **Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manu ...
, the inventor of the
Armenian alphabet The Armenian alphabet ( hy, Հայոց գրեր, ' or , ') is an alphabetic writing system used to write Armenian language, Armenian. It was developed around 405 AD by Mesrop Mashtots, an Armenian linguist and wikt:ecclesiastical, ecclesiast ...
. It is one of Armenia's better known churches and a
pilgrimage A pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning about their self, others, nature, or a higher good, through the experience. It can lead to a personal transformation, aft ...
site. Pilgrims visit the church on the Feast of the
Holy Translators The Feast of the Holy Translators ( hy, Սուրբ Թարգմանչաց տօն, ''Surb T'argmanchats ton'') is dedicated to a group of literary figures, and saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church, who founded the Armenian alphabet, translated the ...
in October. Mashtots was buried at the site in 440, where a
martyrium A martyrium (Latin) or martyrion (Greek), plural ''martyria'', sometimes anglicized martyry (pl. martyries), is a church or shrine built over the tomb of a Christian martyr. It is associated with a specific architectural form, centered on a cent ...
was built three years later. The current church dates to 1873–79, when an entirely new building was built on the grave of Mashtots, located under the altar. It has been the seat of the
Diocese of Aragatsotn Diocese of Aragatsotn ( hy, Արագածոտնի թեմ ''Aragatsotni t'em''), is a diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church covering the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. The name is derived from the historic Aragatsotn canton of Ayrarat province o ...
since 1996.


Early history

According to
Movses Khorenatsi Movses Khorenatsi (ca. 410–490s AD; hy, Մովսէս Խորենացի, , also written as ''Movses Xorenac‘i'' and Moses of Khoren, Moses of Chorene, and Moses Chorenensis in Latin sources) was a prominent Armenian historian from the late an ...
, when
Mesrop Mashtots Mesrob or Mesrop ( hy, Մեսրոպ) is an Armenian given name. Mesrob / Mesrop may refer to: *Mesrop Mashtots, also Saint Mesrop, Armenian monk, theologian and linguist. Inventor of the Armenian alphabet **Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manu ...
died (c. 440), three locations were considered for his burial place: his native Taron region;
Goghtn Goght'n ( hy, Գողթն; also mentioned in sources as Goght'an, Գողթան, and spelled Gołt'n by modern scholars) was a canton (''gavaṛ'') located in the province of Vaspurakan in historical Armenia. Its borders roughly corresponded to the m ...
, where he had begun his missionary work; and
Vagharshapat Vagharshapat ( hy, Վաղարշապատ ) is the 4th-largest city in Armenia and the most populous municipal community of Armavir Province, located about west of the capital Yerevan, and north of the closed Turkish-Armenian border. It is comm ...
, Armenia's political and religious capital, next to the graves of other saints. His body was eventually taken by Hmayeak
Mamikonian Mamikonian or Mamikonean ( Classical hy, Մամիկոնեան; reformed orthography: Մամիկոնյան; Western Armenian pronunciation: ''Mamigonian'') was an aristocratic dynasty which dominated Armenian politics between the 4th and 8th c ...
, a military commander and the brother of
Vardan Mamikonian Vardan Mamikonian ( hy, Վարդան Մամիկոնեան; – 451) was an Armenian military leader who led a rebellion against Sasanian Iran in 450–451. He was the head of the Mamikonian noble family and holder of the hereditary title of , ...
, and Vahan
Amatuni Amatuni ( hy, Ամատունի) is an ancient Armenian noble family, known from the 4th century in the canton of Artaz, between lakes Van and Urmia, with its center at Shavarshan (latter-day Maku), and subsequently also at Aragatsotn, west of ...
, Armenia's Persian-appointed ''hazarapet'' (chief of finances), to
Oshakan Oshakan ( hy, Օշական) is a major village in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia located 8 kilometers southwest from Ashtarak. It is well known to historians and pilgrims of the Armenian Apostolic Church as the site of the grave of Mesrop Mas ...
, the latter's native village. This is also attested by
Koriun Koriun ( hy, Կորիւն, reformed spelling: Կորյուն; also transliterated as ''Koriwn'', ''Koryun'') was the earliest Armenian-language author. Writing in the fifth century, his ''Life of Mashtots'' contains many details about the evangel ...
, Mashtots' biographer, and
Ghazar Parpetsi Ghazar Parpetsi ( hy, Ղազար Փարպեցի, translit=Łazar P῾arpec῾i) was a 5th to 6th century Armenian chronicler and historian. He had close ties with the powerful Mamikonian noble family and is most prominent for writing a history of ...
. According to Koriun, Vahan Amatuni built an "altar" on the grave of Mashtots three years later, in 443.
Hrachia Acharian Hrachia Acharian ( hy, Հրաչեայ Աճառեան, reformed spelling: Հրաչյա Աճառյան ; 8 March 1876 – 16 April 1953) was an Armenian linguist, lexicographer, etymologist, and philologist. An Istanbul Armenian, Acharian stud ...
interpreted it literally; he believed Amatuni simply added an altar in a pre-existing chapel. The modern view is that Vahan Amatuni built a temple, i.e. a
martyrium A martyrium (Latin) or martyrion (Greek), plural ''martyria'', sometimes anglicized martyry (pl. martyries), is a church or shrine built over the tomb of a Christian martyr. It is associated with a specific architectural form, centered on a cent ...
or a chapel on Mashtots' grave.
Elizabeth Redgate Anne Elizabeth Redgate or A. E. Redgate was born in Lancashire and educated at Bolton School Girls Division and St. Anne's College, Oxford. Since completing her education, she has taught Early Medieval History as a lecturer at the Newcastle Unive ...
suggested that it was an underground martyrium. Not much is known about the later history of the site until the modern period. In the early 19th century, Hovhannes Shahkhatuniants found five inscriptions at the church, four of which were dated 1285–1295. The inscriptions are believed to have been lost during the reconstruction of the 1870s. At least one inscription was left by Sahmadin, a wealthy Armenian, who apparently renovated the church. The 17th century historian
Arakel of Tabriz Arakel Davrizhetsi or Arakel of Tabriz (; 1590s–1670) was a 17th-century Armenian historian and clergyman from Tabriz. His ''History'' is an important and reliable source for the histories of the Safavid and Ottoman empires, Armenia, Azerba ...
wrote that the roof of the "temple-mausoleum" had entirely collapsed and that only the main altar was still extant. Catholicos Pilippos completely renovated the church between 1639 and 1645, but it was heavily dilapidated by the 19th century. Catholicos
Nerses Ashtaraketsi :''There was also a Caucasian Albanian anti-Catholicos Nerses V, who ruled in 1706–1736.'' Nerses V ( hy, Ներսես Ե Աշտարակեցի, ) (1770 – February 13, 1857), served as the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between ...
made a failed attempt to renovate it in 1850.
Mikayel Nalbandian Mikayel Nalbandian ( hy, Միքայել Նալբանդյան; ) was a Russian-Armenian writer, poet, political theorist and activist. Nalbandian was born in Nakhichevan-on-Don, an Armenian town in southern Russia, and traveled extensively, al ...
, a writer and activist, visited Oshakan during his only visit to Armenia in 1860 and lamented its condition in a poem.


Reconstruction

Catholicos Gevorg IV launched a reconstruction campaign in 1868. He successfully raised funds to rebuild the church. In 1872 he officially called upon the Armenian people to support the cause in a ''kondak'' (proclamation or
encyclical An encyclical was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Roman Church. At that time, the word could be used for a letter sent out by any bishop. The word comes from the Late Latin (originally from ...
). Construction began in the spring of 1873 and the new church was completed in 1879. It was consecrated on October 21, 1879. The new church, built by
Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
workmen from Alexandropol (Gyumri), is a vaulted basilica built in black
tuff Tuff is a type of rock made of volcanic ash ejected from a vent during a volcanic eruption. Following ejection and deposition, the ash is lithified into a solid rock. Rock that contains greater than 75% ash is considered tuff, while rock cont ...
. It has three entrances on the north, south, and west and eleven windows, not including the smaller windows on bell-tower. It has a capacity of 800 people. Acharian described it as a "mid-sized building, much more beautiful than usual rural churches, but lesser than churches of large cities." The grave of Mashtots is located in a cell (chamber) under the main altar. In 1884 a new
marble Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or Dolomite (mineral), dolomite. Marble is typically not Foliation (geology), foliated (layered), although there are exceptions. In geology, the ...
gravestone A headstone, tombstone, or gravestone is a stele or marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. It is traditional for burials in the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim religions, among others. In most cases, it has the deceased's name, da ...
was erected through the funds of Archbishop Andreas, primate of the Artsakh Diocese. It was replaced with an Italian
marble Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or Dolomite (mineral), dolomite. Marble is typically not Foliation (geology), foliated (layered), although there are exceptions. In geology, the ...
gravestone in 1962 that reads: Saint Mesrop Mashtots 361–440 (ՍՈՒՐԲ ՄԵՍՐՈՊ ՄԱՇՏՈՑ 361 ✝ 440). A cylindrical bell-tower was added in 1884 on the eastern side of the church, crowned by a rotunda with eight columns. For its location on the eastern (as opposed to the usual western end) and cylindrical design, it is a rare example in
Armenian architecture Armenian architecture comprises architectural works with an aesthetic or historical connection to the Armenian people. It is difficult to situate this architectural style within precise geographical or chronological limits, but many of its monumen ...
. In 1880 a memorial was erected on the grave of Vahan Amatuni just outside the church.


Later history

On October 13, 1912, Catholicos Gevorg V, other religious figures and common people traveled from
Vagharshapat Vagharshapat ( hy, Վաղարշապատ ) is the 4th-largest city in Armenia and the most populous municipal community of Armavir Province, located about west of the capital Yerevan, and north of the closed Turkish-Armenian border. It is comm ...
to Oshakan in a ceremonial procession as part of the celebrations of the 1,500 anniversary of the Armenian alphabet. The church underwent extensive renovation in the 1960s, during the reign of Catholicos
Vazgen I Vazgen I also Vazken I of Bucharest, (), born Levon Garabed Baljian ( hy, Լևոն Կարապետ Աբրահամի Պալճյան; September 20, 1908 – August 18, 1994) was the Catholicos of All Armenians between 1955 and 1994, for a total of 39 ...
, through the financial support of Hayk and Torgom Ghazarosian brothers of
Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...
, Italy, originally from Yerznka (Erzincan). A monument depicting the original 36 letters of the
Armenian alphabet The Armenian alphabet ( hy, Հայոց գրեր, ' or , ') is an alphabetic writing system used to write Armenian language, Armenian. It was developed around 405 AD by Mesrop Mashtots, an Armenian linguist and wikt:ecclesiastical, ecclesiast ...
, as created by Mashtots, in the ''erkatagir'' style, was erected near the entrance to the grave of Mashtots. It was designed by
Baghdasar Arzoumanian Baghdasar Arzoumanian (1916 - 2001) ( hy, Բաղդասար Արզումանյան, also Bagdasar, Paghtasar, Paghtassar, Baghdik, Bagdik, Arzumanian, Arzoumanyan, Arzumanyan) was an Armenian architect and designer based in Yerevan, Armenia. He was ...
. The floor of the church was covered with basalt tiles. A perimeter wall with a total length of was built around the church in
tuff Tuff is a type of rock made of volcanic ash ejected from a vent during a volcanic eruption. Following ejection and deposition, the ash is lithified into a solid rock. Rock that contains greater than 75% ash is considered tuff, while rock cont ...
. A
drinking fountain A drinking fountain, also called a water fountain or water bubbler, is a fountain designed to provide drinking water. It consists of a basin with either continuously running water or a tap. The drinker bends down to the stream of water and s ...
designed by
Rafael Israelyan Rafayel "Rafo" Israyelian ( hy, Ռաֆայել Իսրայելյան; 8 September 1973) was a Soviet Armenian architect. Seen as a follower of Alexander Tamanian, Israyelian designed some of Soviet Armenia's most prominent structures, including th ...
was erected at the church courtyard in 1964. The church was declared the seat of the
Diocese of Aragatsotn Diocese of Aragatsotn ( hy, Արագածոտնի թեմ ''Aragatsotni t'em''), is a diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church covering the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. The name is derived from the historic Aragatsotn canton of Ayrarat province o ...
in 1996. The prelacy building was unveiled in 1997. The surrounding area of the church was renovated in 2000 by Djivan Koboyan, an Armenian American philanthropist. In August 2012 archaeologist Frina Babayan uncovered remains of the 5th-century structure near the foundations of the bell tower.


Frescoes

The interior of the church was covered with frescoes by Hovhannes Minasian and Henrik Mamian in 1961–64. They created the monumental fresco ''Glory to Armenian Letters and Literature'' («Փառք հայ գրի և դպրության»), which depicts the invention of the Armenian alphabet. Major figures associated with Mashtots are included in it: Mashtots, Catholicos
Sahak Partev Isaac or Sahak of Armenia (354–439) was Catholicos (or Patriarch) of the Armenian Apostolic Church. He is sometimes known as "Isaac the Great," and as "Sahak the Parthian" (Armenian: Սահակ Պարթեւ, Sahak Parthew", Parthian: ''Sahak-i ...
, King
Vramshapuh Vramshapuh ( hy, Վռամշապուհ) was a noble of the Arsacid dynasty who served as the Sasanian client king of Armenia from 389 until his death in 414. He is mainly remembered for presiding over the creation of the Armenian alphabet by Mesro ...
and prince Vahan Amatuni. Minasian also created the
altarpiece An altarpiece is an artwork such as a painting, sculpture or relief representing a religious subject made for placing at the back of or behind the altar of a Christian church. Though most commonly used for a single work of art such as a painting o ...
, depicting the
Virgin and Child In art, a Madonna () is a representation of Mary, either alone or with her child Jesus. These images are central icons for both the Catholic and Orthodox churches. The word is (archaic). The Madonna and Child type is very prevalent in ...
, in 1966. The frescoes were restored in 2019–20 through funding from Armenia's President
Armen Sarkissian Armen Vardani Sarkissian ( hy, Արմեն Վարդանի Սարգսյան; also written as Sarksyan and Sargsyan) (born 23 June 1952) is an Armenian politician, physicist and computer scientist who served as the 4th president of Armenia from 9 A ...
.


''Dpratun''

A school was established next to the church in 1913. It served as a public school during the Soviet period. The building was renovated in 1996-97 through the financial support of Djivan Koboyan, an Armenian American philanthropist, and was reopened on October 18, 1998. It serves as a ''dpratun'' (դպրատուն), a scientific and educational center, dedicated to Mashtots and the Armenian alphabet.


Depictions

In 1969 Rafael Atoyan painted Armenia's national poet,
Hovhannes Tumanyan Hovhannes Tumanyan ( hy, Հովհաննես Թումանյան, classical spelling: Յովհաննէս Թումանեան,  – March 23, 1923) was an Armenian poet, writer, translator, and literary and public activist. He is the nationa ...
, at the entrance of the church. The 20th century Armenian writer
Sero Khanzadyan Sero Nikolayi Khanzadyan ( hy, Սերո Նիկոլայի Խանզադյան, , 1915 – June 26, 1998) was an Armenian writer and novelist. Early life and education Sero Khanzadyan was born in 1915 to a peasant family in the town of Goris located ...
called the church (as the resting place of Mashtots) and
Kanaker Kanaker ( hy, Քանաքեռ; also Romanized as K’anak’err, Kenaker, Kanaker, and Qanaqer) was a town in Armenia to the north-east of the capital Yerevan. With the urban development, the village was gradually absorbed by the capital Yerevan t ...
, the birthplace of
Khachatur Abovian Khachatur Abovian ( hy, Խաչատուր Աբովյան, Khach’atur Abovyan; (disappeared)) was an Armenian writer and national public figure of the early 19th century who mysteriously vanished in 1848 and was eventually presumed dead. He was ...
(1809–48) as Armenia's two holy sites.


References

;Bibliography * * * * {{Contemporary Armenian Churches Churches completed in 1879 19th-century churches in Armenia Christian monasteries in Armenia Tourist attractions in Aragatsotn Province 19th-century Oriental Orthodox church buildings