Mar Givargis An Assyrian church :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Mar Givargis An Assyrian church

Iran / Western Atrpatakan / Salmast / Khosrova

Historical Introduction

The first Assyrian immigrants who arrived at Khosrova from Julamerik District of Van Province in 1828 found two abandoned Armenian churches in the village, St. Gevorg and St. Anna, which was smaller in dimensions. Most presumably, they started using the first of them for their religious needs without even changing its name (in the Assyrian language, it sounds as Mar Givargis). A missionary who visited the village in 1831 writes that the local Assyrian church was an old building, this coming to substantiate our supposition: “It [the church] was an old stone structure, ornamented within by a multitude of coarse shawls and Roman pictures hung around its walls, and its interior was extremely dark. Like the common Armenian churches, its floor was strewn with sheep-skins and bits of rugs; and each one, as he entered, left his shoes at the door, and placed himself upon one of them.”

Smith, Eli and H. G. O. Dwight. Missionary Researches in Armenia: Including a Journey through Asia Minor, and into Georgia and Persia, with a Visit to the Nestorian and Chaldean Christians of Oormiah and Salmas. London, 1834, p. 354.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 306.

Location

Mar Givargis church is located in the centre (N 38º09°55.27°°, E 44º44°10.18°°) of Khosrova.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 306.

Architectural Description

The church of Mar Givargis (outer dimensions: 27.67 x 17.38 metres), which is built of finely-dressed and hewn stone, is located in the centre (N 38º09°55.27°°, E 44º44°10.18°°) of Khosrova. Although it bears some evident marks of overhaul, it is on the whole in a semi-ruined state at present as it was seriously damaged by the earthquake of 1930. It has only a single entrance opening from its western facade. For the first time, the church was studied in 1976 by the Italian expedition led by Alpago-Novello (its plan was later published with some information regarding it).

Research on Armenian architecture: Iran, vol. 1, pp. 112, 122. For further description of the church, see Ahrenjani, Mihrdat Rahmani. The Historical Monuments of Salmast. Salmast, 1388, p. 174.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 306.

Lapidary Inscriptions

A 7-line Assyrian inscription engraved above the entrance to the church commemorates its reconstruction in 1845.

We are deeply grateful to Nikadim Youkhanayev, the spiritual leader of the Assyrian community of Verin (Upper) Dvin, in Ararat Region of the Republic of Armenia, for the decipherment and Armenian translations of all the Assyrian inscriptions included in this book.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 306.

Inscription, Assyrian, Construction 1845 y․

A 7-line Assyrian inscription engraved above the entrance to the church commemorates its reconstruction in 1845:

Transl. This church of Mar Givargiz was [re]built in the days of Great Pontiff, Pope Mar Grigoris XVI, Mar Nikalios, Patriarch of Babylon, and Mar Ishoyav of Salamas [Salmast], in 1845 A.D. May you pray for those who worked for that.

Note: Pope of Rome Gregory XVI served from 1831 until 1846.

We are deeply grateful to Nikadim Youkhanayev, the spiritual leader of the Assyrian community of Verin (Upper) Dvin, in Ararat Region of the Republic of Armenia, for the decipherment and Armenian translations of all the Assyrian inscriptions included in this book.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 306.

Author Sasun Danielian
Date 2017 y․

The construction inscription of Mar Givargis Church (photo by S. Danielian, 2017)

Direction From the west
Author Sasun Danielian
Date 2017 y․

Direction From the north-west
Author Sasun Danielian
Date 2017 y․

Direction From the south-west
Author Sasun Danielian
Date 2017 y․

Author Sasun Danielian
Date 2017 y․

Type Measurement
Author Ashot Hakobian
Date 2017 y․