Saghmosavank, Hovhannavank, Oshakan

Saghmosavank Monastery / The monastery complex of Saghmosavank is situated in the Aragatzotn district. Its silhouette dominates the adjacent villages and rise sharp against the background of the mountains crowned by Mt.Aragatz. The main temple of the monastery erected by Prince Vache Vachutyan – the church of St.Sion (1215) and belongs to the same type of cross-winged domed structure with two-floor side-chapels in all the corners of the building. Saghmosavank vestibule is accentuated by a double archway the arches of which are not semicircular but pointed. The book repository of Saghmosavank, built in 1255 under Prince Kurd Vachutyan is among Armenia’s buildings rare in their purpose and original in their composition. Added to three buildings erected earlier, it is L-shaped in the plan. There is an altar apse on its eastern side and its south-eastern corner has two-floor side-chapels attached to it – a unique phenomenon in the structures of such purpose. The decoration of the book depository, for all its variety of form and detail, probably did not satisfy the architect. Therefore he resorted to color decoration as well. Individual parts of the interior are not only composed of red and black stones, but coated with white, yellow and red paint, which added much to the beauty of the interior. The exterior of the book depository is also quite unusual. The building is as high as the church of St.Sion and its vestibule. The facades are plain and topped with gables. The book repository communicates, through doors, with the vestibule and church of St.Astvatzatzin (Holy Virgin) (1235) to which one can get only through the book depository. This circumstance, as well as the existence of the altar apse, suggests that the building was intended for depositing not only manuscripts, but precious church-plate as well.

Hovhannavank / Hovhannavank is a medieval monastery located in the village of Ohanavan in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. The monastery stands on the edge of the Kasagh River canyon, and its territory is adjacent to the village of Ohanavan. The deep gorge is carved by the Kasagh River. The oldest part of the monastery is the single nave basilica of St. Karapet (i.e. Holy Forerunner, John the Baptist) that was founded at the beginning of the fourth century by St. Gregory the Enlightener, who baptized Armenia into the world’s first Christian nation. The wooden roof of the early church was replaced in 554 AD with a thatch cover, and the basilica itself underwent profound renovation between 1652 and 1734. The centerpiece of the monastery is the Cathedral built between 1216 and 1221 through the donation of Prince Vache Vachutian. The Cathedral has a cruciform floor plan, with two storey sacristies in each of the four extensions of the church. The dome has an umbrella-shaped roof, which is unique to Armenian churches. The Cathedral’s important decorations include carved scenes from the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13).

Village Oshakan / St. Mesrop Mashtots church – 1875-79yy., cyclopic fortress – II mil. B.C.. The Oshakan castle (Aragatsotn district) was first mentioned by the historian Pavstos Byuzand for the first time during the 4th century. The Oshakan was owned by the Arshakians. The Armenian king Khosrov Kotak gave Oshakan as a present to Vahan Amatuni for his valor demonstrated during the emancipated wars of 336. Mesrop Mashtots was buried there by the wishes of the prince Amatuni. On this grave a small circular church in 442 was constructed. There is information that Mesrop Mashtots established a school in Oshakan. Oshakan with its fruit-bearing gardens was one of the most famous villages of Armenia. The territory of Oshakan is rich with architectural monuments. On the left bank of the Kasagh River many tombs were excavated. Excavations of the monuments of different eras were found in the various parts of the Didi-Kond hill. A castle of the 7th to the 5th B.C. century with the 0.25 hectare square was found on the peak of the hill. The walls of that castle sized 2.5 to 2.65 m. in diameter were built from large tuff stones. There is an attic and other buildings inside the castle. The excavation was only for the first and the old part of the five castle complexes situated on the north hill in the 7th century B.C. It consists of 40 rooms, halls and temples. During this time a lot of ornaments, instruments from stone and bone, decorations, idols and more than 100 memorials were found.