St. Gevorg (George) Church :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

St. Gevorg (George) Church

Iran / Western Atrpatakan / Salmast / Haftvan

Location

St. Gevorg (George) Church is situated in the centre of the old part of Haftvan (N 38 10 12.18 E 044 45 22.98).

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 191.

Historical Introduction

In 1652 an earlier church of the same name (its foundation date remains obscure) was thoroughly reconstructed into the present-day one so that the latter traces back to this year.
The original church was also a scriptorium and had a repository comprising both manuscripts written there (one of the surviving ones dates from 1538) and some others which were gifts. Below follows some information regarding these manuscripts, with excerpts from their colophons:

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 191.

Below follows some information regarding these manuscripts, with excerpts from their colophons:

1. In 1538 Celibate Priest Aharon, who was a scribe, an illuminator and a binder, wrote a Gospel (for Bishop Petros) the colophon of which states the following: “This holy Gospel was written under the protection of St. Gevorg the Holy Commander in the small town of Havtvan, in the district of Salamast in the year 987 [1538], in the days of: Catholicos Grigor; Bishop Sahak, the prior of [the monastery of] St. Bardughimeos Arakyal [Bartholomew the Apostle]; Archimandrite Stepanos; Village Head Yezdanbashkh and his son, Mr. Amirjan, and the king of the Kizilbashes, Tahmas Mirza. I am scribe Aharon ... illuminated and bound this [Gospel] ... at the request of the honourable ... kind-hearted bishop Petros the Mahtesy who ... received it with his honestly-earned means for the sake of his person, in memory of his and his parents’ souls, also in memory of his father Hovhannes and his mother Gulmalik, his brothers, sisters and relatives, and my spiritual brothers Bakishe and Guliar, my godmothers Khondze, Ghimat and Bakijan, their sons and all their family.... May God have mercy on Priest Karapet of the city.”

Manuscripts of St. Hakob Monastery, vol. 10, p. 93.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 191.

2. In 1643 a Gospel was written “in St. Gevorg Church of Havtvan, in Saghamast [Salmast] Province, by Archimandrite Yeremia ... and donated to the museum of the Cathedral of St. Hakob [Jacob] the Apostle, in the See of Jerusalem, in memory of all the inhabitants of that village, both alive and dead, on 29 April 1869 (1318).”

Manuscripts of St. Hakob Monastery, vol. 6, compiled by N. Pogharian (Jerusalem, 1972), p. 297.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 191.

3. In 1646 St. Gevorg Church received an Aysmavurk, a book on the lives and martyrologies of saints, which had been penned in the monastery of St. Bardughimeos Arakyal (Bartholomew the Apostle), in Aghbak District, Vaspourakan Province, Western Armenia, by Celibate Priest Sahak as a continuation of a manuscript written in the cloister of Lim from 1452 until 1457. Its colophon states: “Written by Celibate Priest Sahak under the protection of the holy apostle Bartholomew in a district called Aghbak ... in the days of Priest Kirakos, the senior teacher, who enriched [and strengthened] the monastery both ideologically and financially.... This [manuscript] was written at the request of ... Mirijan, who received this holy book with his honestly-earned means in memory of his kind soul and his parents Gulamir and Parikhan, his spouse Khanagha, his daughters Khanzad and Etar, Parikhan, Yaman, his sister Nonufar and all his kinsfolk, both the alive and the dead.... I am Mirijan from Salamast, Gulamir’s son. I received this holy book with my honestly-earned means and gave it to the church of St. Gevorg the Commander in our village of Havtvan in memory of our souls. Nobody should dare take it away from the church of St. Gevorg the Commander.... May you again remember Khoja [merchant] Mirij and his spouse Khanagha.... ...God, may You have mercy on the client of this book, Merijan, his spouse Khanagha and his daughters Parikhan, Khanzat and Yetar.... Receiving this Aysmavurk three years ago, ... I donated it to the church of St. Gevorg the Commander. Another three years later, [I also gave this church] ... a chasuble and some vessels necessary for the service [italics added].”

Մայր ցուցակ հայերէն ձեռագրաց հրատարակեալ ի Մխիթարեան միաբանութենէ, հ. Զ, Տաճկաստան-Պարսկաստան, տետր Բ, Ցուցակ հայերէն ձեռագրաց Թաւրիզի, կազմ.՝ Աճառեան Հր., [Main List of the Armenian Manuscripts Published by the Mekhitarist Congregation, vol. 6: Turkey-Persia, chapter 2: List of the Armenian Manuscripts of Tabriz, compiled by Hr. Atjarian] (Vienna, 1910), pp. 104-105. In 1905 to 1906, this manuscript belonged to Soghomon Melik-Abrahamiants, a tailor from Tabriz. Also see Colophons, 17th century, vol. 3, p. 205.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 191.

4. In 1649 St. Gevorg Church also received a Lectionary of 1410 written in Sourb Astvatzatzin (Holy Virgin) Monastery of Khoradzor (probably, this is the monastery of Tzortzor in West Atrpatakan Province of Iran). Its colophon reads: “Written in 1098 [1649]. I am Priest Ghazar’s son Alexan from Havtvan Village of Salmast. I received this sacred book ... and gave it to the church of St. Gevorg the Commander.”

Colophons, 17th century, vol. 3, p. 375.
Also see Թօփճեան Յ., Ցուցակ ժողովածուաց Դադեան Խաչիկ վարդապետի [H. Toptjian, List of Manuscripts Compiled by Archimandrite Khachik Dadian], part 2 (Vagharshapat, 1900), p. 51.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 191.

5. In 1871 scribe Ghazar Muradian Simoniants wrote a Collection in St. Gevorg Church.

List of Manuscripts, vol. 2, p. 509.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 192.

It should be noted that “throughout the district of Salmast, only two villages are permitted to have bells in their churches: the Armenian village of Havtvan and Khosrova, which is inhabited by Assyrians.”

«Մեղու Հայաստանի» [Meghu Hayastani], no. 45, 18 November 1878, p. 4.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 192.

In 1870 Archimandrite Hakob sent a letter to the prior of the monastery of St. Tade (Thaddeus), Archimandrite Yesayi, asking him to send two bells for St. Gevorg Church through his messenger Ordu Margarian.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 319, list 1, file 164, p. 1. The letter was signed by Priest Kirakos Aslaniants, Sardar Khudaverdian, Mahtesies Harutiun Melik-Margarian and Mnatsakan Grigorian, Priest Ghazar, Khudaverdi Sardarian, Avetis Harutiunian and others.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 192.

A report of the income and expenditures of the church for the year 1876, made up in 1877, stated that “forty tumans was paid to the masons for paving the church roof.”

National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 12, file 556, p. 1.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 192.

St. Gevorg Church was famous for a relic kept there, “the right hand of the apostle Bartholomew”: “[From time to time] the Armenian villages become the scenes of processions, with the right hand of the holy apostle Bartholomew being moved around all these places. It is always kept in the church of Haftvan Village.”

Averois, “My Travel Memories,” p. 24.
Also see Hayrapetian, “Salmast,” no. 211, 22 September 1969, p. 5.
***, Նամակ Պարսկաստանից [“A Letter from Persia”], Mshak, no. 102, 8 September 1892, p. 3.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 192.

Initially, this relic was kept in the monastery of St. Bartholomew the Apostle in Aghbak District, but its prior, Archbishop Israel of Constantinople, “pawned it with Agha Shahbenter Erahim, an inhabitant of the town of Dilman, Salmast, for 500 Persian tumans to pay the debt of the monastery. For many years, the hand was kept in this Persian’s house until the late Melik Hakhverti Mirzayan, an inhabitant of Haftvan, held fund-raising among the Armenians of Salmast and collected 700 Persian tumans to pay the debt to that Persian with the interest included. Once bought back, the relic was placed in the main church.”

Աճեմեան Ռ., Նամակ Պարսկաստանէն [R. Atjemian, “A Letter from Persia”], «Արմէնիա» [Armenia], no. 73, 1 May 1886, p. 2.
According to another author, St. Bartholomew’s right hand was taken to Haftvan’s St. Gevorg Church from the monastery of Derik: “The right hand of the apostle Bartholomew, which was brought here from the renowned monastery of Derik, is moved around in a procession in times of epidemics or drought” (Աթայեան Ա., Սալմաստ [A. Atayan, Salmast] (New Jugha, 1906), p. 25).
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 192.

On the night of 1 (13) March (Sunday) 1886, a number of Assyrians from Khosrova plundered St. Gevorg Church: “Some of the villains climbed two huge ladders, got onto the church roof from the east and went down through the roof door. They robbed the church of all its utensils, but they could not find the [apostle’s] right hand. Instead, they stole away the huge silver cross of the altar, thinking that the relic was inside it.”

Աճեմեան Ռ., Նամակ Պարսկաստանէն [R. Atjemian, “A Letter from Persia”], «Արմէնիա» [Armenia], no. 73, 1 May 1886, p. 2.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 192.

The following record reports about what happened during a procession in 1892: “This week, when the sacred right hand [of the apostle] was on its way back to Haftvan from the village of Savra, the Catholic Assyrians and clergymen of Khosrova went out to join the procession and led the participants to their village. However, the Catholic Jesuit archimandrites living there forbade them to take the relic to the church, which greatly irritated the locals. They said, ‘We’ve always been on friendly terms with the Armenians and have lived side by side with them without any problems. Stop sowing enmity between us! If you don’t, you’ll have to leave this place. We don’t need you.’ In this way, after two years’ hostility and conflicts, the two Christian communities became reconciled and repaired their friendship.”

*, “A Letter from Persia,” Nor-Dar, no. 176, 21 October 1894, p. 3.
Karapetian. Samvel**, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, pp. 192-194.

On 25 September 1894, St. Gevorg Church celebrated the feast of the Cross of Varag and the anniversary of the ordination of Mkrtich I as Catholicos of All Armenians. During the ceremony, the Prelate of Salmast, Archimandrite Arsen Vehuny Yeretsian, who was also the prior of Derik Monastery, officiated at a liturgy for the first time.

B., “A Letter from Persia,” Armenia, no. 28, 3 November 1894, p. 1.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 194.

In 1895 St. Gevorg Church received “100 tumans bequeathed by a certain Ghadim.”

Pir Chevush. “A Letter from Salmast.” Shavigh, no. 5, 18 February 1895,” p. 2.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 194.

In 1912 some repairs were carried out in the church: “Early in September 1912 ... the people of Haftvan held a number of meetings during which they particularly considered the issue of the overhaul of their old church, St. Gevorg. After long discussions, they unanimously decided to raise an estimated amount of 2,300 rials for the renovation of its damaged interior and exterior parts. An ad hoc committee was established for this purpose.... On 20 March of this year [1913], the Committee wrote a letter to Kh. Gevorgian and P. Ghazarian, informing them about their goals, efforts and their failure in raising the aforementioned sum. ... [In response to this], Kh. Gevorgian initiated fund-raising in his district and almost completed the amount necessary for the overhaul of the church.”

Սարգսեան Կ., Հաֆթուանի եկեղեցու վերանորոգման առիթով [K. Sargissian, “On the Occasion of the Repairs of the Church of Haftvan”] «Մշակ» [Mshak], no. 156, 18 July 1913, p. 4. The members of the ad hoc committee were Priests G. Mahtesy-Poghossian and Husik Melikian, H. Baroyan, M. Shahoyan, P. Soybatian, M.-Gh. Sargissian, M.-K. Kostanian, P. M.-Petrossian, M. M.-Hakobian and M. M.-Alexanian. The article also mentioned the names of all the donors.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, pp. 194-195.

On 25 October 1913, “on the initiative of the teachers of Salmast, ... a liturgy and a requiem were served [in the church] in memory of the late Simeon Zavarian.”

Patrikian, “Current Life,” Horizon, no. 256, 13 November 1913, p. 3.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 195.

On 4 August 1914, the inhabitants of different villages of Salmast gathered in the church of Haftvan—by their own will—to attend a solemn liturgy served for the prosperity of Russia, something they should not have done. Among those invited were a colonel and 6 officers from the Russian troops of Salmast. Some speeches were made in Armenian and Russian. Before the day of the liturgy, a triumphal arch had been built at the entrance to the street where the church was situated, with the phrase “Long live Russia!” engraved on it.

Patrikian, “A Letter,” Horizon, no. 206, 19 September 1914, p. 3.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 195.

After his ordination as bishop in Echmiatzin, on 13 October 1914, the Prelate of Atrpatakan, N. Melik-Tangian, visited Salmast. During a meeting with the local inhabitants, held in St. Gevorg Church of Haftvan, he particularly spoke about the serious political situation in the region.

Պատրիկեան Վ., Առաջնորդը Սալմաստում [V. Patrikian, “The Prelate in Salmast”], «Հորիզոն» [Horizon], no. 246, 5 November 1914, p. 4.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 195.

The church of St. Gevorg suffered destruction and plunder during the Turkish invasion of Haftvan late in February 1915.
Early in March of the same year, when the Turks had already been driven away from Salmast, an eye-witness described the situation in the following way: “The [Apostolic] church of Haftvan and the Catholic one of Khosrova have turned into storehouses of wheat: the Turks have left about 7[00] to 800 packs of wheat there.”

Սամ., Քանդուած Սալմաստը [Sam., “Salmast in Ruins”], «Արեգ» [Areg], no. 3, 26 March 1915, p. 4.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 195.

The ruined church of Haftvan was renovated in the 1920s, when a small number of Armenians returned to their native village. The church was mentioned as being in a good state even in 1931, only a year after the disastrous earthquake of 1930.

Kosoyan, “In Salmast and Derik,” Alik, no. 201, 12 September 1964, p. 2.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 195.

On 15 March 1937, Priest Ashot Poghossian officiated at a special ceremony held in commemoration of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s birthday.

Alik, no. 317, 13 March 1937, p. 2.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 195.

In 1943 Haftvan’s solidly-built stone church “is the only building in Salmast to have endured the earthquake of 1930. It is still standing.”

A. T., “Salmast.” Alik, no. 198, 9 November 1943, p. 4.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 195.

On 12 May 1945, the church received 500 rials in memory of the late Bablo Babloyan from Haftvan.

Alik, no. 137, 26 June 1945, p. 3.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 195.

On 8 July 1951, a prayer of gratitude was delivered in the church in commemoration of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s recovery.

Alik, no. 166, 27 July 1951, p. 2.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 195.

In 1953 Aghajan Grigorian and Harutiun Gevorgian, who lived in Tehran, donated all the income of their lands in Haftvan to the village church and school.
In the summer of the same year, Khachatur Harutiunian visited his birthplace, Haftvan: “[Seeing] that St. Gevorg Church was in need of repairs, he willingly committed himself to repairing its floor and ... fulfilled his promise within a short time, spending quite a considerable amount of money for that purpose.” During this work, the church also received financial assistance from Sargis Petrossian.

Alik, no. 197, 8 September 1953, p. 3.
Alik, no. 241, 2 November 1953, p. 4.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 195.

In 1957 the church was mentioned as a standing structure of stone. In the same year, it had 5 plots of land.

Tghtakits. “A Brief Report on the Armenian Community of Salmast.” Alik, no. 103, 15 May 1957, p. 4.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 195.

In 1957 Abraham Khudikian donated 500 rials to the church in commemoration of the 40th day after Nunia Khudikian’s death.

Alik, no. 74, 7 April 1957, p. 4.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 195.

On 24 April 1958, a liturgy and a requiem were served in St. Gevorg Church in memory of the victims of the 1915 Genocide. After the ceremony, Priest Mesrop Minassian spoke about the massacres he had witnessed in the lower parts (close to Lake Van) of Hayots Dzor District, Vaspourakan Province, Western Armenia.

Թղթակից, Ապրիլ 24-ի տօնակատարութիւն [Tghtakits, “Remembering 24 April”], «Ալիք» [Alik], no. 99, 12 May 1958, p. 2.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 195.

On 9 January 1959, the church received 500 rials in memory of Gevorg Arzumanian (instead of a wreath). It also got 300 rials from Mr. Muradian.

Alik, no. 6, 11 January 1959, p. 3.
Alik, no. 223, 9 October 1959, p. 3.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 195.

In 1960 Satenik and Khachatur Harutiunian gave St. Gevorg Church 400 rials in memory of Armenak Ojakhian, who had died in Tehran on 25 May. In addition, an amount of 1,000 rials was donated by Ashkhen Ojakhian.

Alik, no. 118, 3 June 1960, p. 3.
Alik, no. 143, 7 July 1960, p. 3.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 195.

A press publication of 1960 stated that “the eastern part [of the church], from the bema to the solea, is much older than the western one. The building is in a very good state of preservation. This is the only church [in the district] that remained standing after the disastrous earthquake of 1930, which shows how firmly and solidly the Armenians of Haftvan have built their sanctuary.”

Bolatian, “Impressions,” Alik, no. 181, 24 August 1960, p. 1.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 195.

From 1961 until 1965, Satenik and Khachatur Harutiunian made annual donations of 500 rials to the church in memory of: Armenak Nazarian (early in 1961), who had died on 23 January of the same year); Yervand Matevossian (in September 1962); Khachik Chakalian (in 1964), and Hakob Martirossian (in 1965). The contribution of 1963 was made instead of the celebration of Khachatur Harutiunian’s birthday.

Alik, no. 18, 24 January 1961, p. 3.
Alik, no. 199, 19 September 1962, p. 3; no. 202, 23 September 1962, p. 3.
Alik, no. 143, 2 July 1964, p. 3.
Alik, no. 94, 6 May 1965, p. 3.
Alik, no. 194, 14 September 1963, p. 3; no. 3, 5 January 1964, p. 4 (an amount of 50 tumans was given to the church).
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 195.

On 25 February 1965, a liturgy was held in St. Gevorg Church in memory of the Genocide victims and in celebration of the feast of St. Vardan the Commander and his followers.

A. Al., “National Life in Salmast,” p. 3.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 195.

In the autumn of the same year, the church received 1,500 rials in memory of Arshak Hakhverdian. It also got 2,000 rials from Hayk Hakhverdian in 1966, and 2,500 from Gayane Poghossian in July 1969 in commemoration of the 40th day after her father Karapet’s death (instead of giving a special meal on that occasion).

Alik, no. 231, 23 October 1965, p. 3; no. 257, 24 November 1965, p. 6.
Alik, no. 117, 5 June 1966, p. 5.
Alik, no. 153, 16 July 1969, p. 6.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, pp. 195-196.

In 1970 Levon, Henrik and Rubik Barkhudarian gave St. Gevorg Church 5,000 rials to mark the 40th day after their uncle Mushegh’s death.

Alik, no. 4, 8 January 1970, p. 6.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 196.

On 24 April 1970, the church celebrated a liturgy and served a requiem mass in memory of the Genocide victims.
In June of the same year, Tajat and Khoren Poghossian donated 5,000 rials to the Church Renovation Fund on the occasion of the 40th day after their father, Priest Ashot Poghossian’s death.

Թղթակից, Ապրիլեան ոգեկոչումներ [Tghtakits, “Remembering the April Victims”], «Ալիք» [Alik], no. 97, 10 May 1970, p. 4.
Alik, no. 131, 20 June 1970, p. 6.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 196.

Early in June 1971, Vahram Antonian made a gift of 10,000 rials to the church in memory of his wife Ania.

Alik, no. 119, 3 June 1971, p. 6.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 196.

In August 1973 Arpenik, Hovhannes and Garnik Ter-Karapetian donated 2,000 rials to the church in memory of their mother, Anna Babakhanian.

Alik, no. 187, 22 August 1973, p. 7.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 196.

Early in September 1973, the Martirossian brothers allocated 2,500 rials to the Church Renovation Fund in memory of their mother Astghik. In January 1974 Siranush Hakhverdian gave 200 rials to the same fund in memory of her husband Sahak.

Alik, no. 199, 6 September 1973, p. 6.
Alik, no. 16, 23 January 1974, p. 7.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 197.

Early in April 1975, Arusyak and Aram Arzumanian and Evelina and Zaven Balian donated 3,000 rials in memory of Siranush and Sahak Hakhverdian. In the same year, Khachatur (Christapor) Harutiunian’s relatives gave the church 20,000 rials for its needs. Early in June 1976, on the occasion of Khachatur Harutiunian’s death anniversary, St. Gevorg Church received two nearby plots of land (numbered 107 and 108) that he had bequeathed to the sanctuary.

Alik, no. 76, 10 April 1975, p. 6.
Alik, no. 150, 9 July 1975, p. 7.
Alik, no. 121, 2 June 1976, p. 7.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 197.

In 1976 Priest Mesrop Minassian stated the following about the repairs necessary for the church which had a history of 850 years according to him: “A petition was submitted to the Government for the overhaul of the church of Havtvan, and the issue was included in the Government programme, as informed by the engineer E. Youtujian: the renovation of the church was planned as soon as that of the church of Khoy was completed. Unfortunately, however, Youtujian died and the settlement of the issue was consigned to uncertainty.”

Alik, no. 50, 4 March 1976, p. 4.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 197.

In March 1977 St. Gevorg Church received a donation of 20,000 rials in memory of Avetik Ojakhian.

Alik, no. 69, 30 March 1977, p. 7.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 197.

In February 1980 Satenik Nazarian gave 5,000 rials to the church in memory of her husband Yenok. In June of the same year, Varduhi Harutiunian donated 5,000 rials in memory of her husband Aram and her sister Armenouhi Sanasarian.

Alik, no. 32, 13 February 1980, p. 6.
Alik, no. 132, 25 June 1980, p. 8.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 197.

In April 1984 Nektar Baroyan made a donation of 20,000 rials in memory of her husband Arsen and her brother Gurgen Ter-Martirossian (he had died in Los Angeles, USA). In the same year, Parandzem and Garik Ojakhian gave the church 50,000 rials in memory of Avetik Ojakhian and Armenouhi and Hayrapet Nazarian.

Alik, no. 80, 16 April 1984, p. 7.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 197.

Architectural Description

St. Gevorg Church (outer dimensions: 9.59 x 9.52 metres) is a single-nave basilica of an ogival vault which rests on a pair of pilasters. A vestry representing a simple trapezoid in plan is located on either side of the sanctuary. The font is in its traditional place, in a niche cut in the northern wall. The original entrance opening from the western façade was widened during the construction of the narthex adjoining the church from the same side. A structure of four pillars (outer dimensions: 15.25 x 13.31 metres), the narthex has an entrance opening from its western facade.
The short, dodecahedral tambour is placed in the centre of the narthex and rests on four square pillars. The dome is surmounted by a pointed spire.
The church is mostly built of undressed and semi-dressed stones which are bound by mortar. Its most important parts such as the columns, pilasters, vault-bearing arches and the section round the entrance are laid with finely-finished stones. Both the church and the narthex have been inwardly plastered for several times: this became clear during the renovation ongoing in the church for already several years (still underway in 2017). When the uppermost layer of the plaster covering the pillars of the narthex was removed, the remnants of some frescoes were unclosed beneath it (see the section entitled The Frescoes of St. Gevorg Church).

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 197.

Judging from a photograph of the early 1900s, the church used to have a two-floor belfry of stone built on the western part of the narthex roof. Probably, it was destroyed by the earthquake of 1930, being later replaced by a simple one of wood.
The church and narthex together (total dimensions: 24.84 x 13.31 metres) cover an area of 120 sq. metres. The walled area around the church is about 5,500 sq. metres (including the ruins of the theatre).

For the first time, the church plan was published in 1969 by the German architect W. Kleiss (Kleiss, ibid.). Later it was also published in other works (see Research into Armenian Architecture: Iran, vol. 1 (17), p. 34; vol. 2 (18), p. 31; Documenti di architettura Armena [Documents on Armenian Architecture], vol. 20 (Milan, 1989), pp. 54-55).
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 197.

Lapidary Inscriptions

The section round the western entrance of the church narthex is faced with finely-dressed stones and engraved with inscriptions. These lapidary records which date from the 2nd half of the 17th century and reach the 18th to 19th centuries commemorate both construction activities and acts of donation. Some more inscriptions that were hidden beneath a coating of plaster for several decades have recently been unclosed inside the church.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 197.

St. Gevorg Church, where 15 inscriptions are preserved, is the only monument throughout the district with such a large number of lapidary records. Before our research, these inscriptions were studied by only Hayk Atjemian (1959)382 and Gabriella Uluhojian (1976).

Hayk Atjemian put down the inscriptions of Haftvan on 16 to 17 August 1959, but his work did not see the light until 2016, when Research on Armenian Architecture (RAA) Foundation published it (see Atjemian, “Ancestral Relics,” Vardzk, no. 11 (2016), p. 46).
G. Uluhojian was one of the members of the Italian expedition led by the architect A. Alpago-Novello (see Research into Armenian Architecture: Iran, vol. 1 (17), pp. 156-160; Uluhojian, “The Epigraphy,” p. 144).
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 197.

During our visits to Haftvan in 2011 and 2016, we copied the following inscriptions of the church:

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 197.

Murals

As already stated above, during the renovation ongoing in the church for already several years (still underway in 2017), the uppermost layer of the plaster covering the pillars of the narthex was removed, revealing the remnants of some frescoes.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 201.

A dated (1819) inscription in painted letters was unclosed amidst the frescoes, suggesting that these murals could have been painted either in the same year or around the same period.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 201.

In August 2016 some images could already be discerned on the plaster-free parts: Adam and Eve, the Holy Virgin with infant Jesus in Her arms, St. Gevorg, floral motifs, decorative bands, etc.

For more details about these frescoes, see Payman, no. 72 (2016), pp. 223-235.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 201.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration 1649 y․

On the upper right part of the narthex entrance (5 lines in Armenian):

Transl.: In the year 1098 [1649]. This cross was sculpted in memory of Khoja Mirijan.

Note: The inscription is engraved on one of the revetment stones of the older church once standing in the site of the present-day one. Mirijan was also mentioned in 1646 as the client for a manuscript donated to the same church (see Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 191).

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 197.

Type Copied Lapidary Inscription
Author Samvel Karapetian

Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2011 y․

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Construction 1652 y․

Left of the narthex entrance (10 lines in Armenian):

Transl.: By the grace of God, with the mercy of the Holy Spirit, this church of St. Gevorg was built for the salvation of Bishop Parsam’s and Mister Melik Alexan’s souls, also for Hovhannes, the priests and all the people, men and women, those aged [and] boys in the days of His Holiness Pilipos and Archbishops Hovanes and Yesayi, both archimandrites, in the times of King Shahpas Junior, in the year 1101 [1652].

Published in: Atjemian, “Ancestral Relics,” p. 46; Uluhojian, “The Epigraphy,” pp. 145-146.

Note: Both Atjemian and Uluhojian have a lot of inaccuracies in their decipherments: the latter reads պարոն ամեպկ(իւ)լին (?) instead of Պարսամ եպ(իս)կ(ոպո)սին; Թով(մա)սին instead of Յով(աննէ)սին and անօժեից instead of կանանց, ծերոց.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 198.

Type Copied Lapidary Inscription
Author Samvel Karapetian

Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2011 y․

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration 1660 y․

Left of the narthex entrance (6 lines in Armenian):

Transl.: This cross was erected for the salvation of the soul of Melik Alexan, an innocent Christian whose blood was shed [and] who was killed by Khan Safi Ghuli in 1109 [1660].

Published in: Atjemian, “Ancestral Relics,” p. 46; Uluhojian, “The Epigraphy,” p. 147.

Note: Atjemian’s decipherment is absolutely correct, while Uluhojian offers եւս շինեցօ insetad of կա(ն)գնեցօ, and Ապ(ա)սի instead of Սաֆի.

Սամվել Կարապետյան, Հայաստանի պատմություն, Սալմաստ, հ. Բ, Երևան, 2017, էջ 215:

Type Copied Lapidary Inscription
Author Samvel Karapetian

Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2011 y․

Inscription, Armenian, Embossed, Commemoration 1706 y․

Above the narthex entrance (3 lines in embossed letters):

Transl.: This cross is in memory of Melik Shahghulo. 1155 [1706].

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 198.

Type Copied Lapidary Inscription
Author Samvel Karapetian

Author Samvel Karapetian

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration 1720 y․

Right of the narthex entrance (3 lines in Armenian):

Transl.: To Shagho. 1169 [1720].

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 198.

Type Copied Lapidary Inscription
Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2017 y․

Author Armen Hakhnazarian

Inscription, Armenian, Embossed, Commemoration 1753 y․

Above the narthex entrance (2 lines in embossed letters):

Transl.: This holy cross is in memory of Shahpaki. 1202 [1753].

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, pp. 198-199.

Type Copied Lapidary Inscription
Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2017 y․

Author Samvel Karapetian

Inscription, Armenian, Embossed, Commemoration 1759 y․

Right of the narthex entrance (5 lines in embossed letters):

Transl.: This cross is in memory of Melik Hakup’s daughter Sara, who is the wife of Mamko, the son ... ...they consigned their souls to Christ in 1208 [1759].

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 199.

Type Copied Lapidary Inscription
Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2017 y․

Author Armen Hakhnazarian

Inscription, Armenian, Embossed, Commemoration

Above the narthex entrance (2 lines in embossed letters):

Transl.: This cross is in memory of Melik Hakob and his spouse Shah...

Note: The inscription is incomplete.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 199.

Type Copied Lapidary Inscription
Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2017 y․

Author Samvel Karapetian

Inscription, Armenian, Embossed, Repairs

Above the narthex entrance (5 lines in embossed letters):

Transl.: The door of St. Gevorg [Church] was again repaired by Mahtesy Karabet, a Frank [Catholic], as the people wished, in 1...

Published in: Atjemian, “Ancestral Relics,” p. 46; Uluhojian, “The Epigraphy,” p. 144.

Note: The part reading սրտամբ | ժողովրդին, թվին Ռ... is missing from Atjemian’s decipherment, while Uluhojian read it as արտեամբ(՞) | ... վօղորմ (՞):

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 198.

Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2017 y․

Author Armen Hakhnazarian

Inscription, Armenian, Embossed, Commemoration

Right of the narthex entrance (2 lines in embossed letters):

Transl.: This cross is in memory of Mahtesy Nikoghos, the son of Ma...

Note: The inscription is incomplete.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 199.

Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2017 y․

Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2011 y․

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration

Left of the narthex entrance (2 lines in Armenian):

Transl.: This cross was erected [in memory of] Mahdasy [Mahtesy] Mir.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 199.

Type Copied Lapidary Inscription
Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2017 y․

Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2011 y․

Inscription, Armenian, Embossed, Commemoration 1846 y․

On the arched stone above the narthex entrance (3 lines in embossed letters and a single engraved one):

Transl.: Mahtesy Karapet, in 1846.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 199.

Type Copied Lapidary Inscription

Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2011 y․

Inscription, Armenian, Commemoration 1652 y․

Amidst the numerous crosses commemorating acts of donation that were unclosed after the partial removal of the plaster coating inside the narthex (a single line in Armenian):

Transl.: In the year 1101 [1652].

Note: This year is also fixed in the construction inscription of the church.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 199.

Type Copied Lapidary Inscription
Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2017 y․

Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2016 y․

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration 1660 y․

Amidst numerous crosses commemorating acts of donation that were unclosed after the partial removal of the plaster coating inside the narthex (3 lines in Armenian):

Transl.: In the year 1109 [1660]. This cross was carved in memory of Aebi.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 201.

Type Copied Lapidary Inscription
Author Samvel Karapetian

Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2016 y․

Inscription, Armenian, Commemoration 1819 y․

Written in black and red letters on the coating of plaster covering the west-directed face of the south-eastern pillar inside the narthex (6 lines in Armenian):
Transl.: ...by the holy will of the Holy Spirit, ... army leader Gevorg ... in memory ... his spouse ... in the year 1268 [1819].

Note: The initial parts of the lines are not preserved.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 201.

Direction From the west

Date 1932 y․

Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2011 y․

Author Ashot Hakobian
Date 2011 y․

Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2011 y․

Direction From the west
Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2011 y․

Direction From the north
Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2011 y․

Type Measurement
Author Ashot Hakobian
Date 2011 y․

Plan of the church

Type Measurement
Author Ashot Hakobian
Date 2011 y․

Plan of the church

Author Ashot Hakobian
Date 2011 y․

Type Measurement
Author Ashot Hakobian
Date 2011 y․

Type Copied Lapidary Inscription
Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2017 y․

A tracing of the western facade of St. Gevorg Church, which is rich in inscriptions

Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2016 y․