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'''Gandzasar monastery''' ({{lang-az|Gəncəsər Monastırı}}, {{lang-hy|Գանձասարի վանք}}) is a 13th century [[Caucasian Albanian]] [[monastery]] situated in the [[Kalbajar Rayon]] of [[Azerbaijan]]<ref>[http://www.guidemap.az/info/Description.aspx?idlo=40&lvo=4&pID=1446695 Azerbaijan Guidemap]</ref>, near the village of Vank. "Gandzasar" means ''treasure mountain'' or ''hilltop treasure'' in Armenian.<ref name= "bbc2005">Thus, the name divided into syllables, Գանձ+ա+սար, is translated as [[wikt:գանձ|գանձ]] = treasure; [[wikt:սար|սար]] = mountain or hilltop, with the letter "[[wikt:-ա-|-ա-]]" (-a-), forming an [[Agglutination|agglutinative]] [[Compound (linguistics)|compound]].</ref> The monastery holds relics believed to belong to [[Zechariah (priest)|St Zechariah]], father of John the Baptist. {{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} Gandzasar was the residence of the [[catholicos|catholicoi]] of the Albanian Catholicate from about 1400 until 1816,<ref name="hewsen">{{cite book | last = Hewsen | first = Robert H. | title = Armenia: A Historical Atlas | year = 2001 | publisher = [[The University of Chicago Press]] | isbn = 0-226-33228-4 | page = 159}}</ref> (until Caucasian Albanian Church was annexed to Armenian Church by Russian authorities) and is now the seat of the Archbishop of [[Artsakh]].
'''Gandzasar monastery''' ({{lang-az|Gəncəsər Monastırı}}{{lang-hy|Գանձասարի վանք}}) is a 13th century [[Caucasian Albanian]] [[monastery]] situated in the [[Kalbajar Rayon]] of [[Azerbaijan]]<ref>[http://www.guidemap.az/info/Description.aspx?idlo=40&lvo=4&pID=1446695 Azerbaijan Guidemap]</ref>, near the village of Vank. "Gandzasar" means ''treasure mountain'' or ''hilltop treasure'' in Armenian.<ref name= "bbc2005">Thus, the name divided into syllables, Գանձ+ա+սար, is translated as [[wikt:գանձ|գանձ]] = treasure; [[wikt:սար|սար]] = mountain or hilltop, with the letter "[[wikt:-ա-|-ա-]]" (-a-), forming an [[Agglutination|agglutinative]] [[Compound (linguistics)|compound]].</ref> The monastery holds relics believed to belong to [[Zechariah (priest)|St Zechariah]], father of John the Baptist. {{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} Gandzasar was the residence of the [[catholicos|catholicoi]] of the Albanian Catholicate from about 1400 until 1816,<ref name="hewsen">{{cite book | last = Hewsen | first = Robert H. | title = Armenia: A Historical Atlas | year = 2001 | publisher = [[The University of Chicago Press]] | isbn = 0-226-33228-4 | page = 159}}</ref> (until Caucasian Albanian Church was annexed to Armenian Church by Russian authorities) and is now the seat of the Archbishop of [[Artsakh]].


==History and architecture==
==History and architecture==
The construction of Gandzasar began in 1216, under the patronage of the Albanian prince of [[Khachen]], [[House of Hasan-Jalalyan|Hasan-Jalal Dawla]], and it was completed in 1238 and consecrated on [[July 22]], 1240. <ref>[http://baku.eparhia.ru/history/albania/after_viii_centure/#sn Late History of Albanian Church]</ref>
The construction of Gandzasar began in 1216, under the patronage of the Albanian prince of [[Khachen]], [[House of Hasan-Jalalyan|Hasan-Jalal Dawla]], and it was completed in 1238 and consecrated on [[July 22]], 1240.


The complex is protected by high walls. Within the complex is the Cathedral of St. [[John the Baptist]] (Սուրբ Յովհաննու Մկրտիչ եկեղեցի in [[Armenian language|Armenian]]), built between 1216 and 1238.<ref>Khatcherian, Hrair (1997). ''Artsakh: A Photographic Journey''. Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, p. 13.</ref> The drum of its dome has exquisite bas-reliefs that depict the [[Crucifixion]], [[Adam and Eve]], and two ministers holding a model of the church above their heads as an offering to God. There is inscription in the facade of the temple. Inscription contains this writings "I Hasan Jalal, build this temple for my people of Aghvank" <ref>{{cite book |title=Black garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan through peace and war |last1=De Waal |first1=Thomas |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2003 |publisher= New York University Press|location= New York |isbn= 0-8147-1944-9 |page= 154 |pages= |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=pletup86PMQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Black+Garden&hl=en&ei=KFhETKKsAoH88Abz1NXBDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Mamedova&f=false |accessdate= July 19, 2010}}</ref> "Aghvank" was the ancient name for Caucasian Albania. It is possible that village name Vank came from word Aghvank. The bas-reliefs have been compared to the elaborate carvings of [[Aghtamar]],<ref> See Comneno, Lala M., Cuneo, P, and Manukian, S. Volume 19: Gharabagh. Documents of Armenian Art - Documenti di Architettura Armena Series. Polytechnique and the Armenian Academy of Sciences, Milan, OEMME Edizioni, 1980, Introduction</ref> and some art historians consider the monastery to represent one of the masterpieces of [[Armenian architecture]] {{Citation needed|date=April 2011}}. Gandzasar's cathedral church shares many architectural forms with the main churches of two other Armenian monasteries also built in the mid-13th century: [[Hovhannavank Monastery]] and [[Harichavank Monastery]]. <ref>[[Jean-Michel Thierry|Thierry, Jean-Michel]] and Patrick Donabedian. ''Les Arts Arméniens''. Paris, 1987.</ref><ref>Thierry, Jean. ''Eglises et Couvents du Karabagh''. Antelais, Lebanon, 1991, pp. 161-165</ref>
The complex is protected by high walls. Within the complex is the Cathedral of St. [[John the Baptist]] (Սուրբ Յովհաննու Մկրտիչ եկեղեցի in [[Armenian language|Armenian]]), built between 1216 and 1238.<ref>Khatcherian, Hrair (1997). ''Artsakh: A Photographic Journey''. Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, p. 13.</ref> The drum of its dome has exquisite bas-reliefs that depict the [[Crucifixion]], [[Adam and Eve]], and two ministers holding a model of the church above their heads as an offering to God. There is inscription in the facade of the temple. Inscription contains this writings "I Hasan Jalal, build this temple for my people of Aghvank" <ref>{{cite book |title=Black garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan through peace and war |last1=De Waal |first1=Thomas |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2003 |publisher= New York University Press|location= New York |isbn= 0-8147-1944-9 |page= 154 |pages= |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=pletup86PMQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Black+Garden&hl=en&ei=KFhETKKsAoH88Abz1NXBDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Mamedova&f=false |accessdate= July 19, 2010}}</ref> "Aghvank" was the ancient name for Caucasian Albania. It is possible that village name Vank came from word Aghvank. The bas-reliefs have been compared to the elaborate carvings of [[Aghtamar]],<ref> See Comneno, Lala M., Cuneo, P, and Manukian, S. Volume 19: Gharabagh. Documents of Armenian Art - Documenti di Architettura Armena Series. Polytechnique and the Armenian Academy of Sciences, Milan, OEMME Edizioni, 1980, Introduction</ref> and some art historians consider the monastery to represent one of the masterpieces of [[Armenian architecture]] {{Citation needed|date=April 2011}}. Anatoly L. Yakobson, a prominent Soviet medieval art historian, described Gandzasar as a "pearl of architectural art....This is a unique monument of medieval architecture and monumental sculpture, which by right ought to be regarded as an encyclopedia of 13th-century Armenian art."<ref>{{cite book
| last = Hakobyan
| first = Hravard H
| title = The Medieval Art of Artsakh
| publisher =Parberakan
| location= Yerevan, Armenian SSR
| year = 1990
| page= 76
| isbn = 5-8079-0195-9}}</ref>

Gandzasar's cathedral church shares many architectural forms with the main churches of two other Armenian monasteries also built in the mid-13th century: [[Hovhannavank Monastery]] and [[Harichavank Monastery]]. <ref>[[Jean-Michel Thierry|Thierry, Jean-Michel]] and Patrick Donabedian. ''Les Arts Arméniens''. Paris, 1987.</ref><ref>Thierry, Jean. ''Eglises et Couvents du Karabagh''. Antelais, Lebanon, 1991, pp. 161-165</ref>


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
Line 59: Line 69:
*[[Hovhannavank Monastery]]
*[[Hovhannavank Monastery]]
*[[Harichavank Monastery]]
*[[Harichavank Monastery]]
*[[Culture of Azerbaijan]]
*[[Culture of Nagorno-Karabakh]]


==Notes==
==Notes==
Line 65: Line 75:


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
*{{ru icon}} Aleksey, Nekonurov. "History of Christianity in Caucasian Albania". Sergiev Posad. 2004
*{{ru icon}} Yakobson, Anatoly L. “From the History of Medieval Armenian Architecture: the Monastery of Gandzasar,” in: ''Studies in the History of Culture of the Peoples in the East''. Moscow-Leningrad. 1960.
*{{ru icon}} Yakobson, Anatoly L. “From the History of Medieval Armenian Architecture: the Monastery of Gandzasar,” in: ''Studies in the History of Culture of the Peoples in the East''. Moscow-Leningrad. 1960.


Revision as of 06:51, 5 April 2011

Gandzasar
Գանձասար
Religion
AffiliationChurch of Caucasian Albania
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusFunctioning
Year consecratedJuly 20, 1240
Location
Locationnear the village of Vank, Kalbajar Rayon,
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan
Architecture
TypeMonastery, Church
StyleCaucasian Albanian Architecture
Completed1238
Website
www.gandzasar.com

Gandzasar monastery (Template:Lang-azTemplate:Lang-hy) is a 13th century Caucasian Albanian monastery situated in the Kalbajar Rayon of Azerbaijan[1], near the village of Vank. "Gandzasar" means treasure mountain or hilltop treasure in Armenian.[2] The monastery holds relics believed to belong to St Zechariah, father of John the Baptist. [citation needed] Gandzasar was the residence of the catholicoi of the Albanian Catholicate from about 1400 until 1816,[3] (until Caucasian Albanian Church was annexed to Armenian Church by Russian authorities) and is now the seat of the Archbishop of Artsakh.

History and architecture

The construction of Gandzasar began in 1216, under the patronage of the Albanian prince of Khachen, Hasan-Jalal Dawla, and it was completed in 1238 and consecrated on July 22, 1240.

The complex is protected by high walls. Within the complex is the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Սուրբ Յովհաննու Մկրտիչ եկեղեցի in Armenian), built between 1216 and 1238.[4] The drum of its dome has exquisite bas-reliefs that depict the Crucifixion, Adam and Eve, and two ministers holding a model of the church above their heads as an offering to God. There is inscription in the facade of the temple. Inscription contains this writings "I Hasan Jalal, build this temple for my people of Aghvank" [5] "Aghvank" was the ancient name for Caucasian Albania. It is possible that village name Vank came from word Aghvank. The bas-reliefs have been compared to the elaborate carvings of Aghtamar,[6] and some art historians consider the monastery to represent one of the masterpieces of Armenian architecture [citation needed]. Anatoly L. Yakobson, a prominent Soviet medieval art historian, described Gandzasar as a "pearl of architectural art....This is a unique monument of medieval architecture and monumental sculpture, which by right ought to be regarded as an encyclopedia of 13th-century Armenian art."[7]

Gandzasar's cathedral church shares many architectural forms with the main churches of two other Armenian monasteries also built in the mid-13th century: Hovhannavank Monastery and Harichavank Monastery. [8][9]

  • The Gandzasar monastery
    The Gandzasar monastery
  • Closeup of cupola
    Closeup of cupola
  • Interior
    Interior
  • Gandzasar bas-reliefs
    Gandzasar bas-reliefs
  • Armenian medieval lapidary inscriptions on Gandzasar's walls
    Armenian medieval lapidary inscriptions on Gandzasar's walls

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gandzasar.

Notes

  1. ^ Azerbaijan Guidemap
  2. ^ Thus, the name divided into syllables, Գանձ+ա+սար, is translated as գանձ = treasure; սար = mountain or hilltop, with the letter "-ա-" (-a-), forming an agglutinative compound.
  3. ^ Hewsen, Robert H. (2001). Armenia: A Historical Atlas. The University of Chicago Press. p. 159. ISBN 0-226-33228-4.
  4. ^ Khatcherian, Hrair (1997). Artsakh: A Photographic Journey. Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, p. 13.
  5. ^ De Waal, Thomas (2003). Black garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan through peace and war. New York: New York University Press. p. 154. ISBN 0-8147-1944-9. Retrieved July 19, 2010. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ See Comneno, Lala M., Cuneo, P, and Manukian, S. Volume 19: Gharabagh. Documents of Armenian Art - Documenti di Architettura Armena Series. Polytechnique and the Armenian Academy of Sciences, Milan, OEMME Edizioni, 1980, Introduction
  7. ^ Hakobyan, Hravard H (1990). The Medieval Art of Artsakh. Yerevan, Armenian SSR: Parberakan. p. 76. ISBN 5-8079-0195-9.
  8. ^ Thierry, Jean-Michel and Patrick Donabedian. Les Arts Arméniens. Paris, 1987.
  9. ^ Thierry, Jean. Eglises et Couvents du Karabagh. Antelais, Lebanon, 1991, pp. 161-165

Further reading

  • Template:Ru icon Yakobson, Anatoly L. “From the History of Medieval Armenian Architecture: the Monastery of Gandzasar,” in: Studies in the History of Culture of the Peoples in the East. Moscow-Leningrad. 1960.
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