Targmanchats Cloister Monastery :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Targmanchats Cloister Monastery 5 c․

Azerbaijan / Northern Artsakh / Dashkesan / Banants

Location

It is surrounded by picturesque, wooded mountains, is situated on the slope of a gorge lying on the right bank of the stream Bolorajur (Bolorants), a kilometre south of Banants.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 131.

Foundation
5 c․

The monastic complex, whose foundation is traditionally dated back to the 5th century.

“Nor-Dar,” 1892, No. 170, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 131.

Architectural Description

Consists of a single-nave vaulted church, a gavit of the same composition standing west of it and a small vestibule leading to the latter and adjoining it in the west. A double-storey belfry, built of finely-dressed stone, abuts on the gavit in the south and leads to the main entrance of the church. North of the church can be seen a hall that served as a vestry.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 131.

Five metres east of the church, some monks’ dwellings stand side by side in an eastwest-facing direction. They represent six vaulted rooms each of which has an entrance and a window opening from the western facade. In the south-eastern corner of these abodes, a vaulted refectory stretches from the north to the south. In the south, it is adjoined by another similar building which is, probably, a kitchen.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 131.

In the north-east of the cloister, a vaulted barn is located.
The neighbourhood of the sanctuary retains several other ruined structures.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 131.

1630 — 1830 yy․

The monks’ habitations share the construction and stylistic peculiarities of the church and gavit, which suggests that they date from the same year (1630). The barn and refectory were erected under Archimandrite Stepanos in the 1830s: “Prior Stepanos the Archimandrite founded a long refectory, a barn and several cells for the members of the monastic community...”

“Nor-Dar,” 1892, No. 170, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 131.

1845 y․

In 1845 the first of the rooms was repaired at 15 rubles.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3811, p. 22.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 135.

1847 y․

As stated by an archive document of 1847, the cloister “...has six rooms located within its ramparts” (evidently, the monks’ abodes are meant).

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3814, pp. 108-109.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 135.

Historical Introduction
1880 y․

Doomed to continual neglect and deterioration for a long time, the buildings of the monastic complex eventually appeared on the verge of final collapse in the 1880s: “...at present the cloister is in utter dilapidation, with its cells, cattle-shed, storehouse and annexe partly lying in cracks and ruins. The nearby barns merely represent a disorderly heap...”

“Mshak,” 1888, No. 75, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 135.

Priors
1772 y․

Bishop Yeprem is mentioned in 1772.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 5901, p. 1.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 135.

The cloister prospered under Bishop Gabriel Harutiunian Teriants, who ordained many clergymen from the nearby and remote villages as parish priests.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 135.

1830 y․

“The monastery and its estates thrived...” under Archimandrite Stepanos Baliants in the 1830s.

“Nor-Dar,” 1892, No. 170, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 136.

1839 y․

Coenobite Grigor Ter-Hovhannissiants served as Father Superior in 1839.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 457, p. 8.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 136.

1849 y․

In 1849 Archimandrite Hovhannes was succeeded by Archimandrite Sargis.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3818, p. 99.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 136:

Targmanchats Cloister enjoyed bloom and prosperity under Archimandrite Sargis Azariants Tpkhisetsy, a strange clergyman who lived a life of an ascetic: “Throughout the 30 years of his service in Banants Cloister, never did he go to the village lest he might come across a woman there. When pilgrims visited the sanctuary, he consigned himself to the privacy of a dark cave now called Jgnavori Khoots (the Armenian equivalent for ‘Hermit’s Cell’) and stayed there for many days until the believers left.” The prior, whose eremitical mode of life had earned him the name of Kyandagirmaz (i.e. ‘One who does not go to the village’), served in Targmanchats Cloister until the 1870s. Father Superior Sargis, who is mentioned in an archive document of 1864, spent the last years of his life in Karhan Monastery located near Mirzik. There he consigned his soul to God in 1877 at the age of 96.

“Mshak,” 1888, No. 75, p. 2. Another record states, “For a long time, the spiritual leader of the monastery was Archimandrite Sargis Tpkhisetsy, who was known by the name of ‘Kyandagirmaz’ among the people of neighbourhood. That misanthropic clergyman could never be seen in the villages, for he avoided meeting women” (“Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 20, p. 295).
National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list1, file 3843, p. 7.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 136.

1892 y․

For more than a decade, the cloister did not have a prior, “...sexton Martiros Ghalechiants from Gandzak living there all by himself and protecting it...” all that time. Archimandrite Gevorg Ter-Hovhannessiants took up the post of prior in 1892: “Realizing the inconsolable state of their cloister, last September the inhabitants of Banants invited the Reverend Gevorg Ter-Hovhannessiants, an archimandrite from Sevan Monastery, to serve as its Father Superior. It was absolutely devoid of interior ornamentation...”

“Nor-Dar,” 1890, No. 123, p. 3, 1892, No. 170, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 136.

Estates
1830 y․

In the 1830s, the sanctuary had “...between 80 and 90 oravars of arable land tilled by its own 8 pairs of oxen. It also possessed a garden, a large thick wood as well as cows, mules and a great number of bees.”

“Nor-Dar,” 1892, No. 170, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 136.

1840 y․

In 1840 the monastic estates comprised an orchard and 20 oravars of land.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list1, file 3798, p. 63.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 136.

1856 y․

In 1856 “The dominions of the cloister include Hovi Gorge, Khachi Hogh and the stream Voskatel Arakyal in the east; Khurji Hogh and Karmir Kar located above the old monastery in the west; the main road leading to Naltokan and Sorekategher in the south as well as Hotatz Spring and a chapel below Teghvana Kar in the north.” Note: Hovi Gorge, Khachi Hogh, Khurji Hogh and Teghvana Kar were plots of land belonging to the village.

‘Karmir Kar’ is the Armenian equivalent for ‘Red Stone.’ ‘Hotatz’ is that for ‘Rotten.’ National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list1, file 3828, pp. 112, 114-117, 118-121.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 136.

1886 y․

In 1886 the monastic estates were limited to a vineyard and some arable lands.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 18, file 138, pp. 100-101.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 138.

Type Measurement
View Non-Specified
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Sketch

The plan of the cloister

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Hovhannes Zakarian
Source Colour Negative

Type Photo
View General
Direction From the south-east
Author Hovhannes Zakarian

Type Photo
Direction From the south-west
Author Hovhannes Zakarian