Gavit :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Gavit 19 c․

Azerbaijan / Northern Artsakh / Shamkhor / Garnaker

Architectural Description
1980 y․

In the 1980s, the gavit, whose walls were preserved to a height of 1.5 metres, was in a semi-ruined state. Its only entrance opened from its southern facade which retained the remnants of two windows.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 486.

Historical Introduction
19 c․

This gavit replaced an older one in the last quarter of the 19th century, its foundation being initiated by Priest Hovsep Baliants: “The monastery used to have a wooden gavit, but Priest Hovsep urged the inhabitants of Garnaker to destroy it. At present a new one, designed to have stone walls and a wooden roof, is under construction. It comprises two graves which the local residents believe retain the remains of some hermits. Their tombstones, representing crude slabs, are bare of any epitaphs.”

Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 316.
By the time Yer. Lalayan visited the monastery the gavit had already been completed (Lalayan, Yer. Gandzak District. In: “Azgagrakan Handes,” vol. 5, Tiflis, 1899, No. 1, p. 343).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 486.