Haghpat Monastery, also known as Haghpatavank (), is a medieval

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 around the ...

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...

complex in

Haghpat Haghpat () is a village in the Lori Province of Armenia, located near the city of Alaverdi and the state border with Georgia. The village is notable for Haghpat Monastery, a medieval monastery complex founded in the 10th century, and included i ...

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 ...

,UNESCO, "Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin"
/ref> built between the 10th and 13th century.

Location

The location of Haghpat Monastery was chosen so that it overlooks the Debed River in northern Armenia's Lori region. It was built partway up a hillside on a site chosen to afford protection and concealment, but also because of the monks' monastic

humility Humility is the quality of being humble. The Oxford Dictionary, in its 1998 edition, describes humility as a low self-regard and sense of unworthiness. However, humility involves having an accurate opinion of oneself and expressing oneself mode ...

. It is built on a leafy

promontory A promontory is a raised mass of land that projects into a lowland or a body of water (in which case it is a peninsula). Most promontories either are formed from a hard ridge of rock that has resisted the erosive forces that have removed the s ...

in the middle of a cloudy

cirque A (; from the Latin word ) is an amphitheatre-like valley formed by Glacier#Erosion, glacial erosion. Alternative names for this landform are corrie (from , meaning a pot or cauldron) and ; ). A cirque may also be a similarly shaped landform a ...

. The monastery is not isolated and is surrounded by many hamlets.

History and description

The monastery was founded by Queen Khosrovanuysh, wife of the Bagratid king Ashot III, probably in 976. The nearby monastery at Sanahin was built around the same time.

baz0000" target="_blank" class="mw-redirect" title="Armenica.org, "The Architectural Complex of Haghpat Monastery"">Armenica.org, "The Architectural Complex of Haghpat Monastery"
/ref>

Cathedral of Surb Nshan

The largest church in the complex, the

Cathedral A cathedral is a church (building), church that contains the of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, Annual conferences within Methodism, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually s ...

of Surb Nshan, was probably begun in 967–976 by Queen Khosrovanuysh, wife of Ashot III, and completed in 991 by King Smbat. It is a typical example of tenth-century Armenian architecture, its central

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 ...

rests on the four imposing

pillar A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member. ...

s of the lateral walls. The outside walls are dotted with triangular recesses. A

fresco Fresco ( or frescoes) is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting become ...

in the

apse In architecture, an apse (: apses; from Latin , 'arch, vault'; from Ancient Greek , , 'arch'; sometimes written apsis; : apsides) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical Vault (architecture), vault or semi-dome, also known as an ' ...

depicts

Christ Pantocrator In Christian iconography, Christ Pantocrator (, ) is a specific depiction of Christ. or , literally 'ruler of all', but usually translated as 'almighty' or 'all-powerful', is derived from one of many names of God in Judaism. The Pantokrator i ...

. Its donor, the Armenian Prince Khutulukhaga, is depicted in the south

transept A transept (with two semitransepts) is a transverse part of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In cruciform ("cross-shaped") cruciform plan, churches, in particular within the Romanesque architecture, Romanesque a ...

(a transversal

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

intersecting the main nave). The sons of the church's founder, Princes Smbat and Kurike, are shown with Queen Khosravanuysh in a bas-relief on the east gable. Apart from one or two minor restorations carried out in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the church has retained its original character.

Other structures

There are several other structures at the site as well. There is the small domed Church of Sourb Grigor (St. Gregory) from 1005. Two side chapels were added to the original church; the larger one built in the beginning of the 13th century and the smaller, known as "Hamazasp House", built in 1257. In 1245, a three-story tall free-standing

belltower A bell tower is a tower that contains one or more bells, or that is designed to hold bells even if it has none. Such a tower commonly serves as part of a Christian church (building), church, and will contain church bells, but there are also many ...

was constructed. Other 13th-century additions include the chapel of Sourb Astvatsatsin, a library and

scriptorium A scriptorium () was a writing room in medieval European monasteries for the copying and illuminating of manuscripts by scribes. The term has perhaps been over-used—only some monasteries had special rooms set aside for scribes. Often they ...

(later converted into a storeroom), and a large

refectory A refectory (also frater, frater house, fratery) is a dining room, especially in monastery, monasteries, boarding schools and academic institutions. One of the places the term is most often used today is in graduate seminary, seminaries. The name ...

, which is outside the monastery limits.Sourb Nshan, Sourb Astvatsatsin, Sourb Grigor
/ref> There are also a number of

khachkar 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 rosette (design), rosettes ...

s (cross-stones) of the 11th-13th centuries standing on the territory of the monastery, the best known among them is the "Amenaprkich" (All-Savior) khachkar which has been standing since 1273.

Crusades

In 1260,

Prosh Khaghbakian Prosh Khaghbakian (; ), also known as Hasan Prosh, was an Armenian prince who was a vassal of the Zakarid princes of Armenia. He was a member of the Khaghbakian dynasty, which is also known as the Proshian dynasty after him. He was the supreme com ...

, with his Armenian

Zakarid Zakarid Armenia () alternatively known as the Zakarid Period, describes a historical period in the Middle Ages during which the Armenian vassals of the Kingdom of Georgia were ruled by the Zakarid-Mkhargrzeli dynasty. The city of Ani was the cap ...

suzerains Avag and Shahnshah, led a large force of Georgians and Armenians to support a much smaller force of Mongol troops of

Hulegu Hulegu Khan, also known as Hülegü or Hulagu; ; ; ; ( 8 February 1265), was a Mongol ruler who conquered much of Western Asia. As a son of Tolui and the Keraite princess Sorghaghtani Beki, he was a grandson of Genghis Khan and brother of Ari ...

in the

Siege of Mayyafariqin The siege of Mayyafariqin in 1259–1260 was a Mongol siege against the last Ayyubid ruler Al-Kamil Muhammad in his city of Mayyāfāriqīn (modern Silvan, Diyarbakır). The siege of Mayyāfāriqīn closely followed the 1258 siege of Baghdad an ...

, which was defended by its last

Ayyubid The Ayyubid dynasty (), also known as the Ayyubid Sultanate, was the founding dynasty of the medieval Sultan of Egypt, Sultanate of Egypt established by Saladin in 1171, following his abolition of the Fatimid Caliphate, Fatimid Caliphate of Egyp ...

ruler

Al-Kamil Muhammad 'Al-Malik al-Kamil Muhammad ibn al-Muzaffar Ghazi ibn al-Adil Abu Bakr was the son of al-Muzaffar Ghazi and the last Ayyubid emir (prince) of Mayyafariqin (1247–1260). He is also known as Al Kamil Muhammad II to distinguish from his uncle ...

. The Armenian Prince Sevata of Kachen was killed in the conflict. When the city was captured at last after a siege of two years, the Muslims were massacred, but the Christians were spared. Christian relics were collected and brought back to Armenia, particularly to the Haghpat Monastery, which received the hand of the Apostle

St Bartholomew Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. Most scholars today identify Bartholomew as Nathanael, who appears in the Gospel of John (1:45–51; cf. 21:2). New Testament references The name ''Bartholomew ...

Survival throughout history

The monastery has been damaged many times. Sometime around 1130, an

earthquake An earthquakealso called a quake, tremor, or tembloris the shaking of the Earth's surface resulting from a sudden release of energy in the lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from those so weak they ...

destroyed parts of Haghpat Monastery and it was not restored until fifty years later. It also suffered numerous attacks by armed forces in the many centuries of its existence and from a major earthquake in 1988. Nevertheless, much of the complex is still intact and stands today without substantial alterations. File:Canon tables from the Haghbat Gospels; 1211 (Yerevan, Matendaran, MS 6288, fols. 8v–9r.jpg, Canon tables from the Haghbat Gospels, created at

Horomos Monastery Horomos (), also known as Horomosivank, Ghoshavank, Hochavank or Khosha Vank, is an abandoned and ruined medieval Armenian monastic complex about 15 kilometers northeast of the ruins of Ani—the capital of Bagratid Armenia—) in present-day e ...

and soon after given to the Haghpat Monastery; 1211 (Matendaran, MS 6288, fols. 8v–9r). File:Mural representing Khutlubuga. Church of the Holy Sign. Haghpat Monastery, southern wall. Late 13th century. (color).jpg, Mural representing

Khutlubuga Khutlubuga (), also Khutlu Buga or Qutlugh Buqa ( ka, ხუტლუბუღა; died August, 1293), was an Armenian prince of the House of the Artsrunids, and a court official of the Kingdom of Eastern Georgia in the second half of the 13th c ...

. Church of the Holy Sign. Haghpat Monastery, southern wall. Late 13th century. File:Deesis. Church of the Holy Sign. Haghpat Monasery.Wall painting in the semi-dome. Early 13th century.jpg,

Deesis In Byzantine art, and in later Eastern Orthodox iconography generally, the Deësis or Deisis (, ; , "prayer" or "supplication") is a traditional iconic representation of Christ in Majesty or Christ Pantocrator: enthroned, carrying a book, and ...

. Church of the Holy Sign. Haghpat Monastery. Wall painting in the semi-dome. Early 13th century. File:Monasterio de Haghpat, Armenia, 2016-09-30, DD 28-30 HDR.jpg, Church interior, nave and altar File:Monasterio de Haghpat, Armenia, 2016-09-30, DD 06.jpg, Library and scriptorium (storage jars were later inserted into the floor)

Significance, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Described as a "masterpiece of religious architecture and a major center of learning in the Middle Ages", Haghpat Monastery, together with Sanahin Monastery, was placed on

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

World Heritage List World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural heritag ...

in 1996. The monasteries at Haghpat and Sanahin were chosen as UNESCO World Heritage Sites because:

The two monastic complexes represent the highest flowering of Armenian religious architecture, whose unique style developed from a blending of elements of Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture and the traditional
vernacular architecture Vernacular architecture (also folk architecture) is building done outside any academic tradition, and without professional guidance. It is not a particular architectural movement or style but rather a broad category, encompassing a wide range a ...
of the Caucasian region.

Today the area is an increasingly popular tourist site.

Gallery

File:Haghpat aerial 2023.5.jpg, An aerial view File:-Հաղպատի վանական համալիր.jpg File:Armenia Jan 2020 12 42 40 249000.jpeg File:Монастырь Ахпат.09 2.jpg File:2014 Prowincja Lorri, Hachpat, Klasztor Hachpat (30).jpg File:Haghpat Surb Nshan 3.jpg File:Haghpat - Armenia (2934188507).jpg File:Հաղպատի վանք 04.jpg File:02 Հաղպատի վանք Emma YSU.jpg File:2014 Prowincja Lorri, Hachpat, Klasztor Hachpat (04).jpg File:13082011(103)Hakhpat.jpg File:Монастырь Ахпат.09 1.jpg File:2014 Prowincja Lorri, Hachpat, Klasztor Hachpat (12).jpg File:Haghpat-zvonik.jpg, Belltower, 1245 File:Gavit, Haghpat.jpg File:Haghpat Surb Nshan gavit 1.jpg File:Haghpat Hamazasp 2.jpg File:Haghpat Mare de Deu 1.jpg File:Haghpat - Armenia (2934195953).jpg File:Haghpat Monastery - interior 2.jpg File:Haghpat - Armenia (2935033010).jpg File:2014 Prowincja Lorri, Hachpat, Klasztor Hachpat (32).jpg File:2014 Prowincja Lorri, Hachpat, Klasztor Hachpat (37).jpg File:Haghbat f.JPG

References

External links

Haghpat at Armenica.orgArmeniapedia.org entry on HaghpatUNESCO entry on Haghpat and SanahinMonasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin
UNESCO collection on Google Arts and Culture
About Haghpat Monastery
{{Authority control Christian monasteries in Armenia World Heritage Sites in Armenia Christian monasteries established in the 10th century Oriental Orthodox congregations established in the 10th century Buildings and structures in Lori Province Tourist attractions in Lori Province