Vorotnavank ( hy, Որոտնավանք) is a monastic complex located along a ridge overlooking the Vorotan

gorge A canyon (from ; archaic British English spelling: ''cañon''), or gorge, is a deep cleft between escarpments or cliffs resulting from weathering and the erosive activity of a river over geologic time scales. Rivers have a natural tendency to cu ...

, between the villages of

Vaghatin Vaghatin ( hy, Վաղատին) is a village in the Sisian Municipality of the Syunik Province in Armenia. The Vorotnavank monastery is located close to Vaghatin. Demographics Population The Statistical Committee of Armenia The Statistical Co ...

and Vorotan in the

Syunik Province Syunik ( hy, Սյունիք, ) is the southernmost province of Armenia. It is bordered by the Vayots Dzor Province to the north, Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic exclave to the west, Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran to the south. It ...

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 complex is surrounded by a high stone wall for defense against foreign invasions and once housed workshops, stores, a seminary, resort, cemetery and an alms-house. A pillar stood in the yard of the monastery symbolizing that there were monks entering into religious service and kings inaugurated at this location. Hovhan Vorotnetsi (1315-1398), an Armenian medieval philosopher and theologian as well as the founder of Tatev Vardapetaran University lived and worked at the monastery.

Architecture

Surp Stepanos Church

The main church of Surp Stepanos was built in 1000 by Queen Shahandukht, ruler of the lands of Syunik. Prior to the construction of the church stood a shrine to Saint

Grigor Lusavorich Gregory the Illuminator ( Classical hy, Գրիգոր Լուսաւորիչ, reformed: Գրիգոր Լուսավորիչ, ''Grigor Lusavorich'';, ''Gregorios Phoster'' or , ''Gregorios Photistes''; la, Gregorius Armeniae Illuminator, cu, Svyas ...

. Four

sacristies A sacristy, also known as a vestry or preparation room, is a room in Christian churches for the keeping of vestments (such as the alb and chasuble) and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records. The sacristy is usually located ...

were placed at the southeastern end of S. Stepanos.

Surp Karapet Church

The adjoining church of Surp Karapet was constructed in 1006-1007 by Queen Shahandukht's son Sevada. The structure has a triple-arched

portico A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls. This idea was widely used in ancient Greece and has influenced many cul ...

at the front façade. A circular

drum The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, it is a membranophone. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a ...

and a recently reconstructed dome rest above the

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 ...

plan of the church.

Destruction

Vorotnavank was destroyed multiple times by foreign invasions as well as an earthquake in 1931 during which S. Karapet's dome collapsed. In 1104 Seljuk-Turks attacked the monastery and the nearby fortress of

Vorotnaberd Vorotnaberd ( hy, Որոտանաբերդ; also Davit Bek's Castle) is an important fortress along a ridge overlooking the Vorotan gorge, between the villages of Vaghatin and Vorotan in the Syunik Province of Armenia. Vorotnaberd is above sea ...

(3 km southeast).

Ivane Zakaryan Ivane is a Georgian masculine given name. It is a cognate of the name John. Notable people with the name include: * Ivane Abazasdze (Georgian: იოანე აბაზასძე), 11th-century Georgian feudal lord, a duke of Kartli under Ki ...

liberated them and gave control of Vorotnavank and Vorotnaberd to Liparit Orbelian of the Orbelyan family. The monastery was repaired and made funcionable during this time. Other foreign invasions included the

Mongol-Tatars The Mongol Empire of the 13th and 14th centuries was the largest contiguous land empire in history. Originating in present-day Mongolia in East Asia, the Mongol Empire at its height stretched from the Sea of Japan to parts of Eastern Europe, ...

(1236?) and later Timur Lenk in 1386. An underground passageway was connected to the fortress of Vorotnaberd, and was used during

siege A siege is a military blockade of a city, or fortress, with the intent of conquering by attrition, or a well-prepared assault. This derives from la, sedere, lit=to sit. Siege warfare is a form of constant, low-intensity conflict characteriz ...

s by invading armies. Reconstruction efforts have been underway since 1980 and are nearly complete.

Gallery

File:Vorotnavank Monastery 2011-1.jpg File:Vorotnavank Monastery 2011-2.jpg File:Vorotnavank Monastery 2011-3.jpg File:Vorotnavank4.jpg, Interior of the apse at Vorotnavank. File:20160608 053-Vorotnavank-Armenien-029.jpg, alt=Area of Vorotnavank, Vorotnavank with monastery wall, monastery garden and old cemetery

References

Bibliography

* * *

External links

Armeniapedia.org: Vorotnavank
{{Armenian Churches Christian monasteries in Armenia Tourist attractions in Syunik Province Buildings and structures in Syunik Province