Gavit :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Gavit 1684 y․

Azerbaijan / Northern Artsakh / Getabek / Getabek

Location

Abuts on Sourb Astvatzatzin Church in the west and shares its compositional features.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 230.

Historical Introduction
1684 y․

The tympanum of the southern entrance bears a construction inscription tracing back to 1684.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 230.

Architectural Description

The gavit, dating from 1684 and entirely built of yellow-greyish finely-finished stone. In the south, its facade is shaped like a portico with a three-arch opening. The northern nave of the building (exterior dimensions: 8.0 x 6.48 metres) is sustained by a pair of columns. The main door of the gavit opens into the portico, while the second one, closed for a long time, used to open from near the northern corner of its western facade.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 230.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Construction 1684 y․

Incised into the entrance tympanum of the gavit:
By the grace of Almighty God, this gallery, holy church and fine gavit were built in the days of Catholicos... by Father Nerses and 70 brethren for the salvation of our souls. May you who read this pray for us. Amen. In the year 1684.
The Armenian original published in: Jalaliants, S. A Travel to Great Armenia, part 1, Tpghis, 1842, p. 165; “Ararat,” 1872, p. 271; “Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 23, p. 330; “Nor-Dar,” 1893, No. 35, p. 3; Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 313; Lalayan, Yer. Gandzak District. In: “Azgagrakan Handes,” vol. 5, Tiflis, 1899, No. 1, p. 337; Corpus Inscriptionum Armenicarum, part 5. Compiled by Barkhudarian, S. Yerevan, 1982, p. 267; Reference: S. Kamalian Fund, copy-book No. 1, VI-11, pp. 22-23.
Note: “The name is not incised into the stone.”

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 234.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration 1684 y․

4 lines in the Armenian original engraved on the lower part of a cross-stone set a little below the western pediment of the gavit:
May this Holy Cross protect Fathers Movses, Nerses, Hovsepan and Parkhutar, who had the gavit of this holy church built with great devotion in the year 1684.
The Armenian original published in: Jalaliants, S. A Travel to Great Armenia, part 1, Tpghis, 1842, p. 165. “Ararat,” 1872, p. 271; Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 314; Lalayan, Yer. Gandzak District. In: “Azgagrakan Handes,” vol. 5, Tiflis, 1899, No. 1, pp. 337-338; Corpus Inscriptionum Armenicarum, part 5. Compiled by Barkhudarian, S. Yerevan, 1982, p. 267.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 234.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration

Incised above the tympanum of the southern entrance of the gavit:
My Lord, deliver Fathers Movses, Nerses, Osepan and Parkhutar from predicaments and save them from evil.
The Armenian original published in: “Ararat,” 1872, p. 371; Corpus Inscriptionum Armenicarum, part 5. Compiled by Barkhudarian, S. Yerevan, 1982, p. 268.
Note: The aforementioned 4 people are the builders of the gavit; therefore, the inscription may be traced back to 1684.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 234.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration 1684 y․

Engraved below a cross relief above the tympanum of a small door opening near the north-western corner of the gavit:
To the four-winged Saviour and the abattoir of the immortal lamb, ...the glorious king. In the year 1684.
The Armenian original published in: “Ararat,” 1872, p. 271.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 234.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration 17 c․

A cryptogram engraved on the western facade of the gavit:
I Nerses.
The Armenian original published in: “Ararat,” 1872, p. 271.
Note: Presumably, the person alluded to is the Nerses mentioned in the construction inscription (1684) of the gavit; therefore, the inscription may be traced back to the end of the 17th century.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 235.

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

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Aram Ohanian
Source Colour Negative