Hayravank Monastery

  • 0
  • 0
Description

Hayravank is a 9th-12th century Armenian monastery located just northeast of the village of Hayravank along the southwest shores of Lake Sevan in the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia. The monastic complex consists of a church, chapel, and gavit.

Surrounding the monastery are numerous khachkars and gravestones that are part of a small cemetery. To the northwest a short distance from the site, are the remains of Bronze Age through medieval fortification walls and foundations of a settlement. A polished black vessel of the Early Bronze Age was discovered during archaeological excavations in the area. Weapons of metal and stone, tools, clay idols, numerous vessels, fireplaces and two tombs, all from the Iron Age were discovered in the vicinity as well.

The church at Hayravank was built during the late 9th century. It is a quatrefoil cruciform central-plan structure with four semi-circular apses that intersect to create pendentives for the octagonal drum and conical dome to stand above. The drum and dome had at one point collapsed completely, but were recently restored. A moderately sized chapel was added in the 10th century off of the southeastern walls of the church. Three portals lead into the church from the gavit, the church exterior and chapel. It is believed that the entry at the western wall to the gavit was added between the 12th and 13th centuries. Exterior walls of the structure differ from the construction of the rest of the complex in that rubble masonry has been incorporated into the façade.

Расположение на карте


Comments