The Mastara Church (), also known as Church of Saint John (''Surb Hovhannes'') in an early medieval church in Mastara,

Armenia Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...

. It features a variation of the cruciform plan and central domed 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. Mastara S Hovhannes plan

The works of medieval architecture in Mastara include, among others, numerous

khachkars A ''khachkar'' (also spelled as ''khatchkar'') or Armenian cross-stone (, , խաչ ''xačʿ'' "cross" + քար ''kʿar'' "stone") is a carved, memorial stele bearing a cross, and often with additional motifs such as rosettes, interlaces, and ...

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: Mastara

Armeniapedia.org: Mastara Church

Armenica.org: Mastara Church

Tourist attractions in Aragatsotn Province Armenian Apostolic churches in Armenia Oriental Orthodox congregations established in the 5th century Churches in Aragatsotn Province 5th-century churches {{ArmenianApostolic-church-stub