The Church of Saint John (''Surp Hovanes''), also known as Mastara Church, in
Mastara,
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 ' ...
dates from the 5th century. It features a variation of the cruciform plan and central cupola'd church. In accordance with its square plan, the four projecting apses, inward-facing circular and outward facing polygonal, offer the requisite supports to hold up the imposing polygonal cupola. The complex church designs are like those in Avan and
St. Hripsime Church, Echmiadzin
Saint Hripsime Church ( hy, Սուրբ Հռիփսիմե եկեղեցի, ''Surb Hřip’simē yekeghetsi''; sometimes ''Hripsimeh'') is a seventh century Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Apostolic church in the city of Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin ...
.
The works of medieval architecture in Mastara include, among others, numerous
khachkars.
Gallery
Image:Mastara-v-vgn04.jpg, View from the northwest
Image:Mastara,church-SE.jpg, View from the southeast
Image:Mastara Detail.jpg, Detail of inscriptions above the western entrance.
Image:Mastara Inscription.jpg, View of an inscription on the western wall.
Image:Mastara Window.jpg, Southern window detail
Image:Mastara, Surb Hovanes Church3.jpg, Interior view of the dome
External links
Armenian Architectural Studies: MastaraArmeniapedia.org: Mastara ChurchArmenica.org: Mastara Church
Tourist attractions in Aragatsotn Province
Armenian Apostolic churches in Armenia
Oriental Orthodox congregations established in the 5th century
Buildings and structures in Aragatsotn Province
5th-century churches
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