armenia18 geghard monastery2
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The monastery complex of Geghard (meaning "spear") was founded in the 4th century by Gregory the Illuminator. It is a unique architectural construction in the Kotayk province of Armenia, being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage SiteThere are many often richly ornamented khachkars cut on rock surfaces and on the walls of the structures or put up on the grounds of Geghard in memory of a deceased or in commemoration of someone’s donation to the monastery. Geghard is one of the most frequented tourist destinations in Armenia
The monastery was founded in the 4th century, according to tradition by Gregory the Illuminator. The site is that of a spring arising in a cave which had been sacred in pre-Christian times, hence one of the names by which it was known, Ayrivank (the Monastery of the Cave). The first monastery was destroyed by Arabs in the 9th century.Nothing has remained of the structures of Ayrivank.
Saint Gregory the Illuminator
During the course of history the monastery suffered from the Mongol and later Lenk Timur’s invasions. It was partially destroyed because of the 1127, 1679 and 1840 earthquakes but was restored and renovated
Entrance in Katoghike Church Gavit
Inside the 1215 Katoghikeh the dome rests on a central square, supported by arches ascending from pilasters and half columns on the four corners of the central hall
The walls were once covered with frescoes
The walls boast a number of
inscriptions and carvings
commemorating medieval
benefactors to the monastery
Montserrat Caballe visited the Geghard Monastery
Adjoining the 1215
Katoghikeh is a large gavit built between 1215 and 1225 and connecting on its north side with a rough rock wall and springs which
have been worshipped since the
Bronze Age
The central aperture is topped with a tent-roof open dome, shaped into stalactites, popular in the 13th century in Armenia and Asia Minor
Entrance to Chapels in the
Rock and Seraphim over
Entrance
The first cave chamber, Avazan (basin), situated north-west of the vestry, was hewn in the 1240s in an ancient cave with a spring (a place of worship in pagan times)There is a cold spring (“Saint Spring”), flowing out of the rocks, inside the church
Avazan Cave-Church
Avazan cave church
Back outside, take a left up the stone stairs onto a mezzanine level which leads into a narrow corridor carved straight into the cliff face
The sides of the passage are covered in elaborate crosses and centuries old carved Armenian script, and lead eventually into an upper chapel, called a “gavit”
The upper gavitA gavit is often
contiguous to the west of a church
in a Medieval Armenian
monastery. It served as narthex (entrance to the
church), mausoleum and assembly room
Upper gavit
The upper gavit
This upper space, was carved from solid rock, completed in 1288.The room's acoustics are remarkable, perfect for Sharakan (Armenian religious chant)Geghard was renowned as a musical school and was unique in having among its famous composers a woman, Sahakadukht, who composed and taught at the monastery in the 8th century
The first monastery was destroyed by
Arabs in the 9th century, but it
was re-established and was flourishing
again by the 13th century
under the patronage of the Proshyan princes, who
are buried here. They provided it
with an irrigation
system in 1200, as well as
paying for the erection and
reconstruction of most of the
churches in the complex
The Proshyans’ sepulchre
The Proshyans’ sepulchre
The Proshyans’ sepulchre
The Proshyans’ sepulchre
the second cave church of Astvatsatsin (Holy Virgin)
The Proshyans’ sepulchre and the
second cave church of Astvatsatsin situated east of Avazan, were
hewn in 1283
The cave church of Astvatsatsin (Holy Virgin)
Church of Astvatsatsin
The cave church of Astvatsatsin (Holy Virgin)
At the back of the upper gavit, in a lower corner there is a small opening that looks down into the Proshian Sepulcher. It is thought the hole was opened in medieval times so that chanters above could make their music permeate the lower floor
The Proshyans’ sepulchre
The Proshyans’ sepulchre
The Armenian eternity sign
The coat-of-arms of the Proshian Princes on the Dome of the Geghart Monastery
Lusavorich (Gregory the Illuminator) Cave Chapels
Lusavorich (Gregory the Illuminator) Cave Chapels
Recent sculptures of Apostles Saints Bartholomew and Thaddeus in the Geghard Monastery
Sound: Armenian sacred music
Text: Internet
Pictures: Internet
Sanda FoişoreanuCopyright: All the images belong to their authors
Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda