The Vahramashen Church (), also commonly referred to as Vahramashen Surp Astvatsatsin or the Church of Amberd) was built for Prince
Vahram Pahlavuni of the
Pahlavuni
Pahlavuni (; classical orthography: Պահլաւունի) was an Armenian noble family, a branch of the Kamsarakan, that rose to prominence in the late 10th century during the last years of the Bagratuni monarchy.
Origins
The Pahlavunis (a ...
family. An inscription on the inside
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 the north portal to the church dates its completion to the year 1026. It sits along the slopes of
Mount Aragats
Mount Aragats (, ) is an isolated four-peaked volcano massif in Armenia. Its northern summit, at above sea level, is the highest point of the Lesser Caucasus and Armenia. It is also one of the highest points in the Armenian Highlands.
The Ar ...
in the
Aragatsotn
Aragatsotn (, ) is a province ('' marz'') of Armenia. It is located in the western part of the country. The capital and largest city of the province is the town of Ashtarak. The Statistical Committee of Armenia reported its population was 128, ...
province of
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 ...
, between the fortress of
Amberd
Amberd () is a 10th-century fortress located above sea level, on the slopes of Mount Aragats at the confluence of the Arkashen and Amberd rivers in the province of Aragatsotn, Armenia. The name translates to "fortress in the clouds" in Armenian ...
and near a wall along the promontory with the Arkashian River in the canyon below.
Architecture
S. Astvatsatsin is a
cruciform
A cruciform is a physical manifestation resembling a common cross or Christian cross. These include architectural shapes, biology, art, and design.
Cruciform architectural plan
Christian churches are commonly described as having a cruciform ...
type church with four two-story chambers in the corners. A large circular twelve-faceted
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 ...
sits on top of the church, with pairs of thin decorative
column
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 standing at the edge of each facet. A
conical
In geometry, a cone is a three-dimensional figure that tapers smoothly from a flat base (typically a circle) to a point not contained in the base, called the ''apex'' or '' vertex''.
A cone is formed by a set of line segments, half-lines, ...
umbrella type
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 above. The exterior of the church is simply decorated with edging around the portal and saddles of some small windows, layers of
cornice
In architecture, a cornice (from the Italian ''cornice'' meaning "ledge") is generally any horizontal decorative Moulding (decorative), moulding that crowns a building or furniture element—for example, the cornice over a door or window, ar ...
work just above the thin columns on the drum and dome, and some cross relief designs carved into the façades.
Gallery
Image:Map of Amberd.gif, Location of Amberd fortress and Vahramashen
Image:Surb Astvatsatsin Vahramashen Church.JPG, Closeup of church
Image:Portal Church Amberd.JPG, South portal (main entry)
Image:Vahramashen Church Dome.JPG, Closeup of cupola
Image:Vahramashen Church Dome Interior.JPG, Interior view of the dome
Image:Vahramashen Church Khachkar.JPG, Khachkar
Image:Vahramashen Church of Amberd, Armenia.jpg, Vahramashen Surp Astvatsatsin during the spring
Image:Vahramashen Church at Amberd.JPG
See also
*
Amberd
Amberd () is a 10th-century fortress located above sea level, on the slopes of Mount Aragats at the confluence of the Arkashen and Amberd rivers in the province of Aragatsotn, Armenia. The name translates to "fortress in the clouds" in Armenian ...
References
*Ararat - Page 29 by Armenian General Benevolent Union
*Documenti Di Architettura Armena, published by Edizione Ares
Notes
External links
Vahramshen Church at Armenica.org
Armenian Apostolic churches in Armenia
11th-century Oriental Orthodox church buildings
Buildings and structures completed in 1026
Churches completed in the 1020s
Churches in Aragatsotn Province
11th-century churches in Armenia
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