Sourb Arakelots (Holy Apostles') Church :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Sourb Arakelots (Holy Apostles') Church 10 — 11 cc․

Turkey / Kars / Bash-Shoragyal / Ani

Location

Sourb Arakelots Church is situated in the area between the Cathedral and Gagkashen Church, almost in the centre of the New City.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 112.

Historical Introduction
10 — 11 cc․

It was erected between the 10th and 11th centuries, but not later than 1031, for it has a donation inscription dating from the same year. The walls of the church bear other similar inscriptions dated 1058 and 1180.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 112.

Architectural Description

The church represents a domed structure which is outwardly rectangular and has four apses inwardly. There are sacristies with sanctuaries in its four corners. According to the reconstruction of the church as offered by T. Toramanian, each of the vestries was surmounted by a smaller dome.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 112.

The church has two entrances opening from its northern and southern facades. The latter leads into a narthex of the early 13th century the walls of which are engraved with inscriptions dated 1212, 1216, 1217, 1220, 1227, 1239, 1251, 1269, 1276, 1277, 1279, 1280, 1289, 1298, 1301 and 1320.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 112.

The narthex represents an outwardly rectangular building with intersecting arches. It is distinguished for its unusually magnificent embellishment—the wide variety of ornamental patterns enriching its ceiling create a mosaic of unsurpassed aesthetic value. Exterior dimensions of the church: 21.4 x 19.8 metres; those of the narthex: 17.3 x 10.7 metres.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 112.

Type Photo
View General
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
View Partial view
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
View Partial view
Author Zaven Sargsian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2000 y․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Zaven Sargsian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2000 y․

Type Photo
View Detail
Author Zaven Sargsian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2000 y․

Type Photo
View Partial view
Author Zaven Sargsian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2000 y․

Type Photo
View Detail
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
View Partial view
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
View Interior
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1900 — 1910 yy․

The eastern facade of the narthex of Sourb Arakelots (Holy Apostles’) Church after the partial restoration and conservation carried out under N. Marr’s supervision

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
View Partial view
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
View Interior
Direction From the north
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Inner view of the narthex of Sourb Arakelots (Holy Apostles’) Church towards the north

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the north-east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author Toros Toramanian
Source Sketch

The plan of Sourb Arakelots (Holy Apostles’) Church

Type Reconstruction
View Exterior
Author Toros Toramanian
Source Sketch

Type Photo
View Partial view
Author Toros Toramanian
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
View Interior
Direction From the north
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Type Photo
View Interior
Direction From the south
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2004 y․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

An architectural detail fallen off Sourb Arakelots (Holy Apostles’) Church

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2004 y․

The southern entrance of Sourb Arakelots (Holy Apostles’) Church opening into the narthex

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2008 y․

The tympanum of the northern entrance of Sourb Arakelots (Holy Apostles’) Church

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2004 y․

The tympanum of the southern entrance of Sourb Arakelots (Holy Apostles’) Church

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Harutiun Kyurkchian
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1880 y․

The eastern facade of the narthex of Sourb Arakelots (Holy Apostles’) Church

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south-west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2004 y․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2008 y․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Partial view of the ornamentation of the eastern facade of the narthex of Sourb Arakelots (Holy Apostles’) Church

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Partial view of the ornamentation of the eastern facade of the narthex of Sourb Arakelots (Holy Apostles’) Church

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Partial view of the ornamentation of the eastern facade of the narthex of Sourb Arakelots (Holy Apostles’) Church

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Partial view of the ornamentation of the eastern facade of the narthex of Sourb Arakelots (Holy Apostles’) Church

Type Photo
View Interior
Direction From the east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Inner view of the narthex of Sourb Arakelots (Holy Apostles’) Church towards the east

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The ceiling of the narthex of Sourb Arakelots (Holy Apostles’) Church

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Partial view of the interior of the narthex of Sourb Arakelots (Holy Apostles’) Church