Yeghegis ( hy, Եղեգիս) is a village in the Yeghegis Municipality of the Vayots Dzor Province in

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 ' ...

. It has a rich historical past, with the medieval Zorats Church, the Tsakhats Kar Monastery and the Smbataberd 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 Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...

word which means

reed Reed or Reeds may refer to: Science, technology, biology, and medicine * Reed bird (disambiguation) * Reed pen, writing implement in use since ancient times * Reed (plant), one of several tall, grass-like wetland plants of the order Poales * ...

.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 In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

, being the seat of the

Orbelian Dynasty The Orbelian lords of the province of Syunik were a noble family of Armenia, with a long history of political influence documented in inscriptions throughout the provinces of Vayots Dzor and Syunik, and recorded by the family historian Bishop ...

in the 13th and 14th centuries, which ruled most of

Zangezur Zangezur ( hy, Զանգեզուր) is a historical and geographical region in Eastern Armenia on the slopes of the Zangezur Mountains which largely corresponds to the Syunik Province of the Republic of Armenia. It was ceded to Russia by Qajar I ...

. However, after the incursion of the armies of

Timur Timur ; chg, ''Aqsaq Temür'', 'Timur the Lame') or as ''Sahib-i-Qiran'' ( 'Lord of the Auspicious Conjunction'), his epithet. ( chg, ''Temür'', 'Iron'; 9 April 133617–19 February 1405), later Timūr Gurkānī ( chg, ''Temür Kü ...

, 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 Sumgait (; az, Sumqayıt, ) is a city in Azerbaijan, located near the Caspian Sea, on the Absheron Peninsula, about away from the capital Baku. The city has a population of around 345,300, making it the second largest city in Azerbaijan after Ba ...

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, Smbataberd Hermon Monastery 9.JPG, Hermon Monastery

References

External links

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