Tzaghkots Cloister :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Tzaghkots Cloister

Azerbaijan / Northern Artsakh / Shamkhor / Garnaker

Location

The most famous monument in Garnaker (also called Garnaker Monastery), it is situated on the left bank of the river Shamkor, 0.7 kilometre south of the village.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 485.

Historical Introduction
1467 y․

The earliest record of this cloister dates back to 1467, when a certain Azaria illustrated a manuscript Gospel there and wrote the following in its colophon, “Enriched with illustrations in Sourb Astvatzatzin of Tzaghkots [situated] in Garnaker, Gandzak District, in the days of Catholicos Hovhannes and Archbishop Tzeruny...”

Colophons, 15th century, vol. 2, p. 244. The colophon of another manuscript created in Tzaghkots Monastery in 1468 and illustrated by the same person repeats this passage (Colophons, 15th century, vol. 2, p. 272).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 485.

1634 y․

The colophon of another manuscript (1634) entitled Meknutiun Saghmosats (‘Interpretation of Some Psalms’) and copied in Tseghna Village of Goghtan District (Vaspurakan Province, Metz Hayk) mentions the monument by the name of Garnaker Monastery: “...Garnik Garnetsy from Garnaker Monastery...”

Colophons of the Armenian Manuscripts of the 17th century, vol. 2. Compiled by Hakobian, V., Hovhannissian, A. Yerevan, 1978, p. 548.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 485.

When Sultan Murad invaded Armenia with an army of 700,000 in 1635 and conquered the castle of Yerevan, Bishop Hovhannes of Hovhannavank (in present-day Aragatzotn Marz of the Republic of Armenia) and his pupils found refuge in Garnaker: “...After Muslims’ leader Murad had captured the castle of Yerevan, all the local residents scattered here and there. The same fate befell Bishop Hovhannes of Hovhannavank, who moved to Aghvank together with his pupils and found haven in Garnaker Monastery.”

Historiography by Zacharia Sarkavag, vol. 2, Vagharshapat, 1870, p. 47, in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 485.

Description
1886 y․

A press publication of 1886 describes the monument as follows, “...it represents a vaulted stone church of small dimensions with a small gavit retaining two unknown graves held in profound reverence by the local people. According to them, originally this sanctuary was a convent, its name of Tzaghkots deriving from that of Mother Superior Tzaghik.”

“Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 21, p. 308.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 486.

Architectural Description

Tzaghkots Cloister, which consists of Sourb Astvatzatzin Church and a gavit, used to have “...a large dwelling and four small monastic cells” within its enclosure.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3814, pp. 107-108.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 486.

Historical Introduction
1919 y․

In 1919 the cloister was in a state of decrepitude.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 4, file 927, p. 32.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 486.

Estates
1840 y․

In 1840 the dominions of Tzaghkots Cloister were described as follows, “...it has a garden of 250 rubles which yields 40 rubles per annum, and a mulberry wood of 40 rubles, providing an income of 10 rubles.”

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3798, pp. 63-64.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 486.

1847 y․

In 1847 the cloister had a vineyard, a mulberry wood, a large house and four small cells. A vineyard, four small rooms and a large dwelling adjoined its enclosure in 1852. A garden and three wooden rooms abutted on its enclosure between 1860 and 1862.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3814, pp. 107-108; file 3819, pp. 116-117; file 3834, pp. 24-25; file 3836, pp. 44-45.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 487.

1886 y․

In 1886 the estates of Tzaghkots Cloister comprised some arable land, a vineyard and three rooms.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 18, file 138.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 487.

1910 y․

In 1910 it held possession of some vineyards and mulberry woods covering three dessiatinas.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 6, file 775, p. 27.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 487.

Priors
1820 y․

Archimandrite Hovhannes Maghakiants, mentioned between the early 1820s and 1839, taught the Armenian language in the school of Tzaghkots Cloister. In 1839 he shared his post with Coenobite Movses Maghakiants.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3831, pp. 39-40; file 457, p. 8.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 488.

1860 y․

In 1860 reference is made to Archimandrite Harutiun.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3834, pp. 24-25; file 3833, pp. 112-113.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 488.

1853 — 1862 yy․

Another archimandrite served as Father Superior in 1853 and 1862.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 2743, pp. 20-21; file 3836, p. 56.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 488.

1864 y․

In 1864 the spiritual leader of the cloister was Archimandrite Harutiun Mamikoniants.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3843, p. 7.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 488.

1878 y․

An archimandrite, whose name remains unknown, performed the duties of Prior in 1878.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3870, p. 26.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 488.

Archimandrite Hovhannes Baraghamiants, who was appointed Father Superior in 1882, held that post for over 28 years.469 He still headed the monastic community in 1910, despite the fact that he was over 106: “...The spiritual leader of the cloister is Archimandrite Hovhannes Baraghamian, who has seen 106 springs... Rather advanced in years, he is absolutely unable, both physically and mentally, to govern the monastery so that it is high time he should be released from his duties.”

National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 6, file 775, p. 27, list 5, file 320, p. 1; file 775, pp. 27-28.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 488-489.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south-west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Khachkars (14th cent.) set around a window opening from the northern wall of the church

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Sketch

The plan of the Tzaghkots Cloister

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Garnaker Monastery	1634 y․