Surp Hovhannes Church, Byurakan
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Surp Hovhannes Church ( hy, Սուրբ Հովհաննես եկեղեցի; translates to the "Church of Saint John") is an important 10th century
basilica In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building gave its name ...
located in the village of
Byurakan Byurakan ( hy, Բյուրական), is a major village in 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 ( 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 ...
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 ''Ox ...
. Not very far away from S. Hovhannes in the same village, are the ruins of the
Artavazik Church Artavazik Church ( hy, Արտավազիկ եկեղեցի) of the 7th century is located in a stone field one kilometer northeast just a little outside the village of Byurakan in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. The name of the church goes back ...
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 developed f ...
es carved into the façade.
Khachkar A ''khachkar'', also known as a ''khatchkar'' or Armenian cross-stone ( hy, խաչքար, , խաչ xačʿ "cross" + քար kʿar "stone") is a carved, memorial stele bearing a cross, and often with additional motifs such as rosettes, in ...
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, Depictions of the Last Supper in Christian art have been undertaken by artistic masters for centuries, ...
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
Christian monasteries in Armenia Armenian Apostolic churches in Armenia Tourist attractions in Aragatsotn Province Buildings and structures in Aragatsotn Province 10th-century churches in Armenia {{Armenia-OO-church-stub