Монастырь Артсванист (Ваневан)
| Монастырь Артсванист (Ваневан) | |
| Vanevan Monastery (Artsvanist) | |
| Ссылки: | http://armenianstudies.csufresno.edu/iaa_architecture/vanevan.htm |
Vanevan Monastery (Artsvanist)
Type: cruciform church with four semicircular apses Location: southern edge of the village of Arcvanist Date: 10th century Evidence of Date: inscriptions on the side of the southeast drum states that main church was founded in 903 Important Details: includes two churches, apse and the rooms of the eastern are covered by the same saddle roof Condition: poor condition Reconstruction: restored by King Gagik 1 Bagratid 990-1020 Summary: Very little is known about the history of Vanevan. According to Bishop Orbelean, Gagik renovated the main church and enclosed the monastery within a wall during the 10th century. Vanevan includes two churches and a jamatoun that are all in line to the east. When King Gagik 1 restored it a surrounding wall was also built. The semi free, four asped main church was dedicated to St. Gregory, and it has two east corner rooms. The four central arches widen progressively, due to the addition of a corner course between the arch bands. Vanevan and the church at Tatew are the two earliest known examples of this formula.
Sqinches are placed in the angles. The drum of this church is octagonal inside and outside and on the roof, now damaged, was pyramidal. The apse and the rooms of the eastern are covered by the same saddle roof. The main part of building has a facing coarse basalt, and the facing upper interior part of the drum is made of carefully cut tufa. On the inside there is a continuos molded band running at the base of the semi domes, this provides the only decorative feature.
The second church is a single nave church with elongated proportions. Its barrel vault, now collapsed, was supported by an arch band, and two arched niches were carved in the lateral walls. The molded band running at the base of the semi dome of the apse and along the top of the wall is identical to that of the church of St. Gregory and seems to prove that the two buildings are contemporary. The internal walls were covered with a coating at and unknown date.
A jamatoun links the two churches. It has a heavy roof and a false vault with a central skylight, partly collapsed, opening in the east wall leads to three rectangular rooms. The jamatoun was added at a later date.
Bibliography: Alisan 1893 Jakabsen 1950 586-587 Mnacakanyan 1960 Cuneo 1968 91-108, 47-54, 55-59 Cubinasvili 1967 Gombosk 1972 Barxudaryan 1973 Manucaryan 1977 6-10
