St. Sargis Church Church :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

St. Sargis Church Church

Iran / Western Atrpatakan / Salmast / Ghalasar

Historical Introduction

From the finely-built, magnificent edifices once adorning Ghalasar, only its semi-ruined church (N 38°11°05.58°°; E 044°50°25.67°°) has come down to our days with some remnants of the cemetery that used to extend around it.
The available records do not provide any information regarding the time of the foundation of this church, but its composition peculiarities trace it back to the 17th century. It was certainly built before 1655 as in the same year, a manuscript Gospel was written in the church. The scribe, Poghos, wrote the following in its colophon: “This holy Gospel was written in the year 1104 [1655] of our [the Armenian] calendar, in the days of the Catholicos of Holy Echmiatzin Pilipos, the prior of the holy monastery of Sourb Bardughimeos [St. Bartholomew], Archimandrite Vohanes, the pious senior teacher Yesayi, and Shah Abbas Junior. I am the worthless scribe Poghos, who does not deserve to be mentioned or remembered at all, a heavy sinner of malicious thoughts. [I wrote this holy Gospel] in the church of St. Sargis the Commander, in a village called Ghalasar, in the land of pious people, Salmast. And by the grace of the Holy Spirit, we started outlining this holy Gospel at the request of the honorary, God-loving priest Markos.”

Colophons, 17th century, vol. 3, p. 680.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, pp. 143.

In 1659 the same scribe also wrote a Collection of Church Chants the colophon of which states the following: “I am ... Poghos... a worthless priest ... did this ... in the church of St. Sargis the Commander, in a village called Ghalasar, in the land of pious people, Salmast, in the days of the prominent teacher, Archimandrite Yesayi, the prior of the monastery of the holy apostle Bardughimeos [Bartholomew]... in the times of Shah Abbas Junior, in the year 1108 [1659] of the Armenian calendar.”

List of the Armenian Manuscripts, vol. 1, p. 588.
Also see Colophons, 17th century, vol. 3, p. 864; Main List of the Armenian Manuscripts, vol. 5, p. 572.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 143.

In the second half of the 17th century, scribe (reader) Hovhan Salmastetsy wrote a number of manuscripts in St. Sargis Church, including A Book of Canons and Homilies (1661) the colophon of which says: “These canons were written in the church of St. Sargis the Commander, in the village of Ghalasar, in 1110 [1661].” In 1668 Hovhan also wrote a Gospel “in the church of St. Sargis the Commander, in Ghalasar Village, in the land of Salmast ... in bitter and harsh times, in 1117 [1668], at the request of the humble, pious, Christ-loving and good-hearted village head, Papik.” Another manuscript by Priest Hovhan was a Prayer-Book written “in the church of St. Sargis the Commander, in the village of Kalasar, in the land of Salmast, in 1122 [1673] of the Armenian calendar.” The manuscripts written in the church also include a Mashtots of 1676, a special book of prayers and canons, a Gospel of 1678 (for a certain Melkon), another Mashtots of 1682132 and a Collection of 1701.

Main List of the Armenian Manuscripts, vol. 3, p. 938.
List of the Armenian Manuscripts of Vaspourakan, pp. 931-932, ms. 403.
Banber Matenadarani, no. 10 (1971), p. 402. Also see Toptjian, p. 55.
List of the Armenian Manuscripts, vol. 2, pp. 366, 1098. Ibid., vol. 1, pp. 422, 1324-1325.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 143.

From 1851 until 1852, Yesayi Avagian wrote a manuscript entitled Bibliography, its colophon mentioning the village by the name of Ghalayhisar.

List of the Armenian Manuscripts, vol. 2, p. 176.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 143.

Most presumably, St. Sargis Church underwent total reconstruction in the ‘20s of the 18th century (it is the remnants of this period that have come down to our days). This is evident from the 1976 photos of P. Cuneo showing two cross-stones of the 17th century placed at random, in a horizontal position, in the western facade of the church—the cross-stones were simply used as building material.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 143.

Inscription, Armenian, Donation 1723 y․

Five lines in Armenian (the initial 2 lines in embossed letters, the rest engraved):

Transl.: This door is in memory of Vatanshan from Gharakoz. In the year 1172 [1723].
Published for the first time.

Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2011 y․

Type Copied Lapidary Inscription
Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2011 y․

Direction From the east
Author Paolo Cuneo
Date 1976 y․

Direction From the north-east
Author Paolo Cuneo
Date 1976 y․

Author Paolo Cuneo
Date 1976 y․

Direction From the south-west
Author Paolo Cuneo
Date 1976 y․

Author Paolo Cuneo
Date 1976 y․

Direction From the east
Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2011 y․

Direction From the north-east
Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2011 y․

Direction From the south
Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2011 y․

Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2011 y․