Small domed church Church :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Small domed church Church 13 c․

NKR / Karvajar / Dadivank

Description

M. Hasratian has already made the exhaustive architectural description of this compact church. It remains only to add that the height of the church is 10.40 m, its outside walls are buried in the debris and ground, which is almost 1 m deep and piled over the ages. Dating of the church by 1180, and the assignment the construction to prince Hassan Vakhtangian seems rather doubtful, as one of the dated khachkars fastened into the church wall was carved in 1190 only. Later dating (by the XIII cent.) proposed by M. Hasratian is not sufficiently substantiated.

Murad Hasratian, The Artsakh School of Armenian Architecture, Yerevan, 1992, pp. 52-53; "Haykazian Armenistic Magazine", Beirut, 1980, p. 11, 52; Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 80.

1211 y․

Measurement of the floor marks made in the site indicated that the floor of the church is 4 m higher that the floor of the so-called “Temple” situated next to the church, 1.5 m south of it. It shows that the area was much steeper before the construction of the “Temple” in 1211. While building it was smoothened by terraces. As a proof we may indicate the northern wall of the “Temple” serving a basement for the smooth terrace which supports the northern wall of the Little Domed Church, built in the centre of the terrace. Hence it follows that the church could have been constructed only after 1211, upon the completion of works connected with the “Temple”. It also seems that obvious cracks in the walls reaching 15-20 cm (the church is damaged) occurred as a result of human interference in the ground layers.

Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 81.

Cross Relief

A cross carved in the left edge of the west- em facade contains 7 short lines:
“GOD HAVE MERCY UPON VARHAM.”

Published in: "Corpus", Issue 5, compiled by S. Barkhudarian, Yerevan, 1982, p. 212; Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 109.

Cross Relief

An inscription engraved round the cross carved on the westem facade:
“STANDS THIS HOLY CROSS OF SHIRVAN.”

Published in: "Corpus", Issue 5, compiled by S. Barkhudarian, Yerevan, 1982, 212; Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 109.

Cross Relief

5 short lines engraved round the cross carved on the southwards facade:
“THIS HOLY CROSS WAS ERECTED TO PLEAD FOR HOVANNES.”

Published in: "Corpus", Issue 5, compiled by S. Barkhudarian, Yerevan, 1982, 212; Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 109.

Cross Relief

A cross carved not far from N 47:
“GOD REMEMBER LIPARIT. AMEN.”

Published in: Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 109.

Cross Relief

A cross carved on the same wall with inscription of 3 lines over it:
“THIS CROSS IS FOR SARKIS.”

Published in: "Corpus", Issue 5, compiled by S. Barkhudarian, Yerevan, 1982, p. 212; Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 109.

Cross Relief

A cross carved on the same wall with inscription of 3 lines beneath:
“GOD, HAVE MERCY UPON SHATBARI. AMEN.”

Published in: "Corpus", Issue 5, compiled by S. Barkhudarian, Yerevan, 1982, p. 211; Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 109.

Cross Relief

A defective inscription engraved near the cross in the western corner of the northern facade of the church. Only 2 lines are preserved:
“GOD HAVE MERCY UPON AR...”

Published in: Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, pp. 109-110.

Cross Relief

A cross on the western facade of the church with an inscription of 3 lines:
“LORD, HAVE MERCY UPON KHOTSADEGH.”

Published in: "Corpus", Issue 5, compiled by S. Barkhudarian, Yerevan, 1982, p, 211, N 743; Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 110.

Type Photo
Direction From the west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the north-west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative

Type Photo
Direction From the west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Date 1993 y․

The small domed church of Dad Monastery from the west before (photo 1993)

Type Photo
View Interior
Author Samvel Karapetyan

Inner view of the tambour of the same church (before restoration)

Type Reconstruction
View Exterior
Author Samvel Ayvazian
Source Sketch

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author Samvel Ayvazian
Source Sketch

Type Photo
Author Samvel Ayvazian
Date 2008 y․

After restoration (photo 2008)

Type Photo
Author Samvel Karapetyan

Partial view of the cross-stones set in the western facade of the same church

Direction From the west
Author Samvel Ayvazian
Date 2007 y․