Church :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Church 1816 y․

Azerbaijan / Northern Artsakh / Shamkhor / Garnaker

Historical Introduction
19 c․

Its construction inscription, which was fortunately copied and published in the late 19th century, reveals that it was founded in 1816 by Archimandrite Hovhannes and Mahtesy Hovhannes.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 489.

Architectural Description

This church (exterior dimensions: 10.7 x 8 metres), built of undressed stone and mortar, represents a uni-nave vaulted basilica, with two vaulted sacristies of rectangular plan in the east. Its main peculiarity consists in the dimensions of its northern vestry, which juts out of the main structure of the church. Its only entrance opens from the western facade. The church is plastered inside, its walls, mainly those of the bema, bearing the traces of some frescoes. The stonework of the building also includes small, finely-adorned khachkars one of which is fitted into a frame for the southern window. This cross-stone, whose only remnants comprise its girdle.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 490-491.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Construction 1816 y․

Carved on the northern wall of the gavit:
By the grace of God, Archimandrite Hovhannes and Mahtesy Hovhannes built this church of Sts. Michael and Gabriel together with the brethren of the community in the year 1816.
The Armenian original published in: Jalaliants, S. Journey to Great Armenia, part 1, Tpkhis, 1842, p. 163; “Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 21, p. 308; Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 316.
Note: Jalaliants deciphers the year as ‘1616.’

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 489.

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

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Sketch

The plan of the church of Hreshtakapetats Monastery