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| 1079 The monastery of Noravank (1) |
Posted on 18.05.2014, 18.07.2015
The armenian architecture developed over the last 4,500 years of habitation in the Armenian Highland (the eastern part of Asia Minor), but its greatest achievement are the medieval churches. This country has abundant resources of stone, so stone was nearly always used throughout for large buildings. In addition, the region being prone to earthquakes, the buildings were erected with this hazard in mind, resulting sturdy, low-slung and thick-walled structures. Even if many relics of Armenia's past have been subject to devastation as a result of Anti-Armenianism, some of them survived, several being included among UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and others being proposed in Tentative List.
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| 1755 The monastery of Noravank (2) |
Between the ones proposed is Noravank (New Monastery), a 13th-century monastery located at 122km from Yerevan, in a narrow gorge made by the Amaghu river, near the city of Yeghegnadzor. In the 13th-14th centuries it became a residence of Syunik's bishops and, consequently a major religious and, later, cultural center of Armenia closely connected with many of the local seats of learning, especially with Gladzor's famed university and library. It is best known for its two-storey Surp Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) church, which grants access to the second floor by way of a narrow stone-made staircase jutting out from the face of building. Also called Burtelashen (Burtel's construction) in the honour of Prince Burtel Orbelian, it was completed in 1339, a masterpiece of the talented sculptor and miniaturist Momik, who designed it, and was also his last work. Near the church there is his tomb khachkar, small and modestly decorated, dated the same year.
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