Yeghegis ( hy, Եղեգիս) is a village in the

Yeghegis Municipality Yeghegis Community ( hy, Եղեգիս Համայնք ''Yeghegis Hamaynk''), is a rural community (municipality) and administrative subdivision of Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia, at the southeast of the country. Consisted of a group of settlements ...

of the

Vayots Dzor Province Vayots Dzor ( hy, Վայոց Ձոր, ) is a province (''marz'') of Armenia. It lies at the southeastern end of the country, bordering the Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan to the west and the Kalbajar District of Azerbaijan to the east. It cover ...

in Armenia. It has a rich historical past, with the medieval Zorats Church, the

Tsakhats Kar Monastery Tsaghats Kar Monastery ( hy, Ցաղաց քար Վանք) is a monastic complex located along the mountain foothills overlooking the Yeghegis River, between the villages of Yeghegis (6 km northeast) and Horbategh in the Vayots Dzor Province of Ar ...

and the

Smbataberd Smbataberd (Armenian: Սմբատաբերդ; meaning ''Fortress of Smbat'' the Prince of Syunik) is a fortress located upon the crest of a hill between the villages of Artabuynk and Yeghegis in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia. Site Smbata ...

fortress being located in the vicinity of Yeghegis, as well as a Jewish cemetery from the 13th century.

Toponymy

The name ''Yeghegis'' originated from the Armenian word which means reed.Kiesling, Brady (2005), Rediscovering Armenia: Guide, Yerevan, Armenia: Matit Graphic Design Studio, see Tsaghats Kar Monastery. The village was also previously known as ''Alagyaz'' and ''Erdapin''.

History

Yeghegis was a prominent economic and political centre during the Middle Ages, being the seat of the Orbelian Dynasty in the 13th and 14th centuries, which ruled most of Zangezur. However, after the incursion of the armies of Timur, as well as Turkmen and Persian forces, Orbelian rule ended by the 15th century. After numerous earthquakes ruined Yeghegis and with the local Armenian population being forcibly exiled into Persia, the village was abandoned. Later the village was populated by Turkish-speaking residents. Following the Sumgait pogrom in 1988, Armenian refugees deported from Azerbaijan settled in the village. Refugees from Sumgait settled in the village in 1988.Armenian Monuments Awareness Project (AMAP) - Armenian Heritage - Yeghegis
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Zorats Church

Zorats Church ( hy, Զորաց եկեղեցի, Zorats Yekeghetsi, ) is a unique Armenian church on a hill close to Yeghegis. It was dedicated in 1303 by archbishop Stepanos, during a period in which Armenia was a Mongol vassal state. The church was designed so that cavalry could receive the sacraments without getting off their horses.

Jewish cemetery

There is a Jewish cemetery in Yeghegis that dates from the period between the 13th and 14th centuries, with the oldest tombstone in the cemetery having been dated to be from 1266 AD and the most recent one having been dated to be from 1346 AD. The Jewish community living in Yeghegis likely had an Iranian origin.One Way Tour - Jewish Cemetery in Yeghegis
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Gallery

Եղեգիս գետի կիրճը.jpg, Scenery Jewish Cemetery, Yeghegis 02.jpg, Jewish cemetery in Yeghegis Jewish Cemetery, Armenia.jpg, Jewish cemetery in Yeghegis Եղեգիսի եկեղեցիների և դամբարանների լուսանկարներ 28.jpg, St. Nshan Church Ցաղաց Քարի վանական համալիրը 01.JPG, Tsaghats Kar Monastery Եղեգիսի լեռներից.jpg, Yeghegis old cemetery St Astvatsatsin Chapel (built 1703) - panoramio.jpg, St. Astvatsatsin Chapel (built in 1703) Սմբատաբերդ9.JPG,

Hermon Monastery 9.JPG, Hermon Monastery

References

External links

* * Populated places in Vayots Dzor Province Jewish Armenian history Orbelian family {{VayotsDzor-geo-stub