Makenyats Vank ( hy, Մաքենյաց վանք) is a 9th–13th century
Armenian monastery located south of
Lake Sevan
Lake Sevan ( hy, Սևանա լիճ, Sevana lich) is the largest body of water in both Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is one of the largest freshwater high-altitude (alpine) lakes in Eurasia. The lake is situated in Gegharkunik Province, ...
in the village of
Makenis
Makenis ( hy, Մաքենիս) is a village in the Vardenis Municipality of the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia
Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western ...
in the
Gegharkunik Province
Gegharkunik ( hy, Գեղարքունիք, ) is a province ('' marz'') of Armenia. Its capital and largest city is Gavar.
Gegharkunik Province is located at the eastern part of Armenia, bordering Azerbaijan. It includes the exclave of Artsvas ...
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 ''O ...
. The monastery was founded in 851 with the construction of the central S. Astvatsatsin Church by Prince Grigor Supan II, the son of Princess Mariam, who was also the founder of
Kotavank in
Nerkin Getashen, Armenia. Makenyats Vank served as a major cultural and educational center for the medieval province of Gegharkunik.
Architecture
The main church of S. Astvatsatsin is
cruciform
Cruciform is a term for physical manifestations resembling a common cross or Christian cross. The label can be extended to architectural shapes, biology, art, and design.
Cruciform architectural plan
Christian churches are commonly describe ...
in plan, with a conical
dome
A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a m ...
supported by a circular
tholobate
In architecture, a tholobate (from el, θολοβάτης, tholobates, dome pedestal) or drum is the upright part of a building on which a dome is raised. It is generally in the shape of a cylinder or a polygonal prism.
In the earlier Byzanti ...
below. Four windows pierce the walls of the tholobate, letting some light into the church interior. A large horse carved in
bas-relief
Relief is a sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces are bonded to a solid background of the same material. The term '' relief'' is from the Latin verb ''relevo'', to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is to give the impression that th ...
adorns the interior basalt
lintel
A lintel or lintol is a type of beam (a horizontal structural element) that spans openings such as portals, doors, windows and fireplaces. It can be a decorative architectural element, or a combined ornamented structural item. In the case of ...
of the main portal to the church.
A single
cupola
In architecture, a cupola () is a relatively small, most often dome-like, tall structure on top of a building. Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome.
The word derives, via Italian, f ...
rests over the southwest entry. Numerous
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 have been placed along the walls of the Church as well as the outer walls enclosing the monastery. A cemetery encompasses the church, especially around the western end, with both medieval and contemporary graves. Along the outer wall, along the gorge to the southwest corner, there is a medieval sanitary facility.
Gallery
Makenyats Vank.JPG, Makenyats Vank
Makenyats Monastery1.jpg, Panoramic view of Makenyats Vank
Makenyats Vank Cupola.JPG, Cupola
Makenyats Vank Wall.JPG, Perimeter wall surrounding the monastery.
Makenyats Vank Khachkars.JPG, Khachkars lining the exterior wall of the church.
Makenyats Vank Khachkars 1.JPG, Large khachkar to the left of the main entry to the church.
Եկեղեցու ներսը.JPG, Large low-relief depiction on the interior side of the stone lintel above the entry.
Makenyats Vank Horse Lintel.JPG, Large low-relief depiction on the interior side of the stone lintel above the entry.
External links
Armeniapedia.org: Makenyats Monastery
Christian monasteries in Armenia
Buildings and structures in Gegharkunik Province
{{Armenia-OO-church-stub