Yeghegnadzor ( ) is a town and urban municipal community in southern

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 ...

, serving as the provincial capital of Vayots Dzor Province and the Yeghegnadzor Municipality. It is located at a road distance of south of the capital

Yerevan Yerevan ( , , ; ; sometimes spelled Erevan) is the capital and largest city of Armenia, as well as one of the world's List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerev ...

, on the shores of Srkghonk River (), at a height of above sea level. As per the 2016 official estimate, Yeghegnadzor had a population of around 6,600. As of the 2011 census, the population of the town was 7,944 and as of the 2022 census, the population of the town was 6,912. Yeghegnadzor is the seat of the Diocese of Vayots Dzor of the

Armenian Apostolic Church The Armenian Apostolic Church () is the Autocephaly, autocephalous national church of Armenia. Part of Oriental Orthodoxy, it is one of the most ancient Christianity, Christian churches. The Armenian Apostolic Church, like the Armenian Catholic ...

Etymology

The name ''Yeghegnadzor'' consists of two

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 ...

words: ''yegheg'' () meaning ''cane'', and ''dzor'' () meaning ''valley''. Thus, the name of the town means "valley of canes".

History

The settlement was first mentioned as ''Pondzatagh'' during the 5th century. Historically, it belongs to the Vayots Dzor canton of Syunik; the 9th province of Greater Armenia (Armenia Major). However, the excavated layer of a cemetery and the remains of a mausoleum from the 1st millennium BC testify that the area has been settled long before the 5th century. The remains of the Urartian fortress near the town dates back to the 7th century BC. According to historical records from the 1st quarter of the 9th century, when Syunats Prince Philip, son of Vasak, moved his residence from Sisian to Vayots Dzor and fortified in Yeghegis, the name ''Yeghegnadzor'' or ''Yeghegyats Dzor spread across the entire province. During the

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

, the

Silk Road The Silk Road was a network of Asian trade routes active from the second century BCE until the mid-15th century. Spanning over , it played a central role in facilitating economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between the ...

passed through the area of Vayots Dzor, particularly the road that currently links the town of Martuni with Yeghegnadzor. Many significant churches, monastic complexes, bridges and

caravanserai A caravanserai (or caravansary; ) was an inn that provided lodging for travelers, merchants, and Caravan (travellers), caravans. They were present throughout much of the Islamic world. Depending on the region and period, they were called by a ...

s were built in the region between the 10th and 13th centuries, when Yeghegnadzor was part of the Kingdom of Syunik under the rule of the

Siunia dynasty The Siuni or Siwni dynasty () was an ancient Armenians, ArmenianIn the west stretched the country called Siunia (in Armenian Siunik') whose rulers belonged to a special Armenian family of descendents of Sisak princely () dynasty which ruled the prov ...

. At the beginning of the 16th century, Eastern Armenia fell under the Safavid Persian rule. The territory of Yeghegnadzor became part of the ''Erivan Beglarbegi'' and later the

Erivan Khanate The Erivan Khanate (), also known as , was a Khanates of the Caucasus, khanate (i.e., province) that was established in Afsharid dynasty, Afsharid Iran in the 18th century. It covered an area of roughly 19,500 km2, and corresponded to most o ...

. The period between the 16th and 17th centuries is considered to be the darkest period in the history of Yeghegnadzor. The region was turned into a frequent battlefield between the invading troops of the Turkic and Iranian tribes. As a result, many significant monuments and prosperous villages were destroyed and the population was displaced. In 1747, Yeghegnadzor became part of the newly-formed Nakhichevan Khanate. By the beginning of the 19th century, Yeghegnadzor was known as ''Keshishkend''. As a result of the Russo-Persian War of 1826–28 and the subsequent Treaty of Turkmenchay, much of historical Eastern Armenia – including Vayots Dzor – became part of the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...

. In 1870, Keshishkend became part of the newly-formed Sharur-Daralayaz uezd of the Erivan Governorate within Russian Transcaucasia. Between 1918 and 1920, the town was included in the short-lived

First Republic of Armenia The First Republic of Armenia, officially known at the time of its existence as the Republic of Armenia, was an independent History of Armenia, Armenian state that existed from May (28th ''de jure'', 30th ''de facto'') 1918 to 2 December 1920 in ...

. After Armenia's Sovietization, it became the center of the Daralagyaz uezd of the

Armenian SSR The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic (ArSSR), also known as Soviet Armenia, or simply Armenia, was one of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union, located in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Soviet Armenia bordered the Soviet republics ...

. The name Keshishkend remained until 1935 when the town was renamed ''Mikoyan'' after the Soviet Armenian statesman Anastas Mikoyan. On 6 December 1956, the town was renamed ''Yeghegnadzor'', restoring its historical name. Following the independence of Armenia in 1991, Yeghegnadzor became the capital of the newly-formed Vayots Dzor Province as per the 1995 administrative reforms.

Geography and climate

Yeghegnadzor is situated at 1,194 metres above sea level. The lower and medium highlands are mainly semi-deserts. It is built across the right and left banks of the Srkghonk River, a tributary of the Arpa River. The town is immediately bordered by the village of Gladzor from the north. The town has a hot-summer

humid continental climate A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers, and cold ...

(

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

''Dfa'') and large diurnal temperature fluctuations with the average annual rainfalls of 400 mm and mountain-valley winds. The average air temperature in January is 5-6◦C, with a coldest temperature of -22◦C and highest of +35◦C in July. The climate is mild with snowy winters and warm summers. The surrounding areas of the town are home to some mammals including bezoar ibex, wolf and fox; reptiles including adder and viper; and birds including partridge and sparrow.

Demographics

Culture

Yeghegnadzor is the largest town and the cultural centre of Vayots Dzor Province. It has a cultural palace, a public library and a regional museum. The town is also home to an art school, a sports school and a musical academy. There is an amphitheater in the Momik public park at the centre of the town. The park is also home to a '' vishapakar'' (dragon stone) dating back to the 2nd millennium BC. As in other parts of Armenia, the people of Yeghegnadzor celebrate traditional Armenian religious festivals, such as Trndez and Vardavar. However, the most popular celebration in the town is the harvest festival, taking place every year on the second Sunday of October. Locals from all villages take part in the parade on cars decorated with flowers, bringing their own crops, berries typical to their territories. Theatrical shows and concerts are held during the festival. Yeghegnadzor is also known for its cheese. Yeghegnadzor cheese is made from pasteurized cow's or goat's milk (or both) and mixed with local greens. It is stored in individual clay pots, then buried in the mountains and left to mature for at least 6 months before consumption. The flavors are strong, sharp, and salty, while the addition of mountain greens gives the cheese even more unique flavors. The texture is semi-soft, and crumbly.

Monuments

* Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God, formerly known as Surp Sarkis church, built in the 12th century and renovated in 1878. The basilica is located at the center of Yeghegnadzor and serves as the seat of the Vayots Dzor Diocese of the

. * Proshaberd fortress (Boloraberd fortress) of the 13th century, located few kilometers to the north-east of Yeghegnadzor, near the villages of Gladzor and Vernashen. * The historic University of Gladzor of the 13th century, located in the village of Gladzor at the outskirts of Yeghegnadzor. * Agarakadzor bridge, 13th century. * Noravank monastic complex of the 13th century, located few kilometers away from Yeghegnadzor, to the southwest of the town. * Spitakavor Monastery of the Holy Mother of God built in 1321, located just to the north of Yeghegnadzor near the village of Vernashen.

Media

"Vardadzor" monthly is the regional newspaper of Vayots Dzor. It is being published in Yeghegnadzor since 15 November 2002. It covers political, economical and regional news. It also has a literary supplement.

Transportation

The M-2 Motorway that connect Armenia from north to south, passes through the town. On the other hand, Yeghegnadzor is domestically connected with other parts of Vayots Dzor through the H-40 and H-47 Roads.

Economy

The economy of the town is based on the construction sector and food-processing industry. Among the largest food-processing plants of the town are the Maran Winery opened in 1992, Old Bridge Winery opened in 1998, Getnatoun Winery opened in 1999, Golden Goat cheese factory opened in 2000, Selim LLC for dairy products founded in 2002, and Yeghegndazor Cannery opened in 2015. The town is also home to many other industrial firms including the "Rafelgrig" for electrical products founded in 1968 and the "Izoton" company for oak-wood made barrels for wine and brandy aging founded in 2003. Light productions of building materials, textile, hand-made carpet and jewellery are also found in the town. During the Soviet period, Yeghegnadzor used to be one of the industrial centres of the Armenian SSR. The relay factory of Yeghegnadzor used to accommodate 1100 workers, the knitwear factory used to accommodate more than 500 workers, while the shoe factory had around 200 workers. Agriculture, including farming, cattle-breeding and bee-keeping are found in the suburbs of Yeghegnadzor.

Education

In 2004, the Gitelik Yeghegnadzor University was opened in the town. As of 2016, it has 12 faculties. The Yeghegnadzor campus of the Armenian State University of Economics is operating since 2008. As of 2016, there are 4 public schools as well as 3 kindergartens operating in Yeghegnadzor. The Royal Victorian University Educational Foundation of Armeni
(RVU)
is based in Yeghegnadzor.

Sport

Arpa FC of Yeghegnadzor -founded as Momik FC in 1992- used to represent the town in the

Armenian Premier League The Armenian Premier League (, known as the Armenian Fastex Premier League for sponsorship reasons) is the top association football, football competition in Armenia. From 1936 to 1991, the competition was held as a regional tournament within th ...

football competition. Like many other Armenian football clubs, Arpa FC was dissolved in early 2003 and is currently inactive from professional football. The Yeghegnadzor City Stadium opened in 1985, is able to accommodate around 500 spectators.

Notable people

* Kamsar (Kamo Sahakyan), renowned Armenian painter * Jaklin Baghdasaryan, Armenian singer

References

Bibliography

External links

Cilicia.com entry on the region
{{portal bar, Geography Populated places in Vayots Dzor Province Populated places established in the 5th century Communities in Vayots Dzor Province Erivan Governorate