St. Hovhannes Church :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

St. Hovhannes Church 1633 y․

Azerbaijan / Northern Artsakh / Gandzak / Gandzak / Kilisakyand

Location

St. Hovhannes, which is the main and oldest church in Nor Gandzak, represents a tri-nave basilica situated in Kilisakyand Quarter, on the right bank of the river.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 45.

Architectural Description

St. Hovhannes, which is the main and oldest church in Nor Gandzak, represents a tri-nave basilica situated in Kilisakyand Quarter, on the right bank of the river. Its semi-circular vault, lying below a gable roof, is sustained inside by three pairs of pillars. The church, whose two entrances open from its southern and western facades, has double-storied vestries in the east. In the course of time, a gavit, a vestibule and a belfry were added to it. Between the 18th and 19th centuries, burials were held both in the vestibule and in the church proper, i.e. in the southern section of the first floor of one of the vestries. Some of the inscriptions of the sanctuary were recorded and later published.

The first scholar to decipher and publish the inscriptions preserved on the walls of St. Hovhannes Church, as well as the epitaphs engraved on the tombstones lying around and inside it is Bishop M. Barkhutariants, who is known to have collected fifteen inscriptions (Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, pp. 36-38). He was followed by Priest Emmanuel Nazariants, who published three inscriptions, two of them newly-found and one republished (“Nor-Dar,” 1889, No. 85, p. 2). Some time later, Lalayan republished four of these inscriptions without referring to the source he had made use of (Lalayan, Yer. Gandzak District. In: “Azgagrakan Handes,” vol. 5, Tiflis, 1899, No. 1, pp. 268, 299). The fifth part of the Corpus Inscriptionum Armenicarum (Yerevan, 1982) republished twelve selected inscriptions which did not add anything to the material already existing. The entire lapidary heritage of St. Hovhannes Church, that follows below, comprises twenty-two inscriptions, two of which appear in print for the first time: we found them during the investigation we conducted in the monument in 1986.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 45.

Repairs
1899 — 1910 yy․

Some archive documents provide important information concerning the construction and overhaul of St. Hovhannes Church. Particularly remarkable are those (entitled “About the reconstruction of Gandzak’s St. Hovhannes Church”) on the major repairs it periodically underwent in the early 20th century. The project of the work and estimate of expenditures were made up in 1903 by architect Oltarzhevski. The submission of the documents necessary for its implementation started in 1899 and ended in 1910. The work that was delayed due to the Armeno-Turkish fights finally started in 1910 and was completed in the same year, with Hovsep Bey Melik-Beglarian, Simeon Afanassian, Michael Lazarian, Hakob Lisikian, Martiros Nabatian and Simeon Babakevkhiyan having supervised it all that time.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3400, pp. 9,13. Also see fund 461, list 1, file 26, pp. 2, 11-12.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 47.

Historical Introduction
1920 y․

In 1920 St. Hovhannes Church suffered bombardment on the order of the Turkish army leadership: “A spate of shells exploded around the sanctuary, five of them eventually hitting their target: three of them damaged the dome, and the other two the walls of the monument.”

Grigorian, B. Mirzik or Vardashen? (An excerpt from a book of memoirs entitled The Traces are Lost). In: “Lragir,” 3 May 1995; “Gardmank,” 1996, No. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 47.

Some church dignitaries and other outstanding personalities who played a pivotal role in the history of the region were buried in the gavit and one of the vestries of St. Hovhannes Church.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 48.

Priests
1862 y․

Among the priests of St. Hovhannes Church, mention should be made of Hovhannes Yengibariants, who was already dead in 1862.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 4254, p. 48.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 49.

1898 — 1918 yy․

Senior Priest Garegin Ter-Grigorian Tumaniants was ordained on 15 November 1898. In 1908 he served his community together with Priests Grigor Babakevkhiants (he died in 1908), Daniel Ter-Danieliants, Mkrtich Ter-Hovsepiants and Shmavon Boriants. Garegin Ter-Grigorian, who had four sons (Tigran, born in 1887; Arsen, born in 1891; Stepanos, born in 1893, and Grigor, born in 1895), died in December 1918.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 461, list 1, file 12, pp. 28-29.
National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 817, p. 5.
National Archives of Armenia, fund 461, list 1, file 52, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 49.

Waterwork

A certain Nanassian living in Gandzak arranged the conveyance of water up to the yard of St. Hovhannes Church with his own means.

"Nor-Dar," 1902, No. 49, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 36.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Construction 1633 y․

4 lines in the Armenian original engraved below a sundial on the southern wall:
St. Hovhannes Church was built during the Patriarchate of Catholicos Hovhannes in the year 1633.

The Armenian original published in: Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 37.
“Nor-Dar,” 1899, No. 85, p. 2.
Lalayan, Yer. Gandzak District. In: “Azgagrakan Handes,” vol. 5, Tiflis, 1899, No. 1, p. 299.
Corpus Inscriptionum Armenicarum, part 5. Compiled by Barkhudarian, S. Yerevan, 1982, p. 227.
Note: M. Barkhutariants is the only researcher to have deciphered the epitaph on the spot; the others only re-published it later.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 45.

Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1985 y․

Its construction inscription of 1633

Author Frederick Berlemont
Date 2007 y․

Its construction inscription of 1633 after its deliberate

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration 1643 y․

5 lines in the Armenian original carved near the eastern corner of the southern facade of the church:
Humble servant of St. Hovhannes Tasali Isrum from Astapat. In the year 1643.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 45.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1984 y․

The inscription of St. Hovhannes Church, now turned into a hall of chamber music, the other a donation (1643) made by a certain Tasal from Astapat.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Frederick Berlemont
Source Colour Negative
Date 2008 y․

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Construction 1860 y․

4 lines in the Armenian original inscribed on the facade of the vestibule entrance:
1860. This door was built through Hosep Zarab Grigoriants’ means in perpetuation of his memory.

The Armenian original published in: Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 37.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 45.

Author Samvel Karapetyan
Date 1985 — 1982 yy․

An inscription of 1860 commemorating the construction of the southern entrance of St. Hovhannes (John) Church with Hovsep Grigoriants' means

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Frederick Berlemont
Source Colour Negative
Date 2008 y․

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Construction 1862 y․

9 lines in the Armenian original engraved on a finely-cut stone set into the southern facade of the church:
In the year 1862 of Our Lord by the grace of God, I, Mahtesy Aghajan Khachaturian, built the roof of St. Hovhannes Church of finely-cut stone and had its inner and outer walls whitewashed in memory of all my living and dead relatives and me.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 46.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration 1816 y․

Engraved above the western entrance of the sanctuary:
The gavit of St. Hovhannes Church was founded and completed under Catholicos Yeprem and Holy Archbishop Nerses through Mahtesy Gevorg Ter-Hovhannissian’s efforts and means. May I ask you, my dear brothers, to pray for the repose of my soul if you happen to read this. 1816.

The Armenian original published in: Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 37.
Lalayan, Yer. Gandzak District. In: “Azgagrakan Handes,” vol. 5, Tiflis, 1899, No. 1, p. 299.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 46.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration 1839 y․

Inscribed inwardly on the upper part of one of the windows opening from the northern facade of the church:
This window is in memory of Ghahraman Mayiliants as well as his parents Avag and Yeghisabet. 1839.

The Armenian original published in: Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 37.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 46.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration 1839 y․

Engraved above the second window adjoining the aforementioned one:
This holy font and window are in memory of Mahtesy Aghajan Khachaturian ...as well as his parents and brothers. 1839.

The Armenian original published in: Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 37.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 46.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Construction 1862 y․

Carved on the southern part of the western entrance of the church opening into the gavit:
In the year 1862 of the Armenian era, by the grace of God, I, Mahtesy Aghajan Khachaturian, had the newly-fashioned dome of St. Hovhannes Church built with my own means in memory of all my living and dead relatives and me. May you who read this remember us kindly, for God granted atonement for all my sins by the grace of the Holy Virgin and all the saints. Gandzak, 1862 A.D.

The Armenian original published in: Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, pp. 37-38.
Lalayan, Yer. Gandzak District. In: “Azgagrakan Handes,” vol. 5, Tiflis, 1899, No. 1, p. 299;

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 47.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration

Incised into one of the church pillars:
Khani.

The Armenian original published in: Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 36;

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 47.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration 1722 — 1794 yy․

A grave located in front of the western entrance of the vestibule had the following epitaph:
In this unforgettable grave repose the remains of prominent brave hero Melik-Arustam from the family of the Armenian Bagratids, who ruled in Barsum, Gandzak Province. Born in 1722, he died in the year 1794.

The Armenian original published in: “Nor-Dar,” 1899, No. 85, p. 2.
Lalayan, Yer. Gandzak District. In: “Azgagrakan Handes,” vol. 5, Tiflis, 1899, No. 1, p. 268.
Corpus Inscriptionum Armenicarum, part 5. Compiled by Barkhudarian, S. Yerevan, 1982, p. 228.
Note: Priest Emmanuel Nazariants was the first scholar to publish the epitaph.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 48-49.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Type Photo
View Detail
Direction From the east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative

A window opening from its eastern facade

Type Photo
View Partial view
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

The entrance of St. Hovhannes Church opening from its southern facade

Direction From the south
Author Frederick Berlemont
Date 2007 y․

Author Samvel Karapetyan
Date 1985 y․

View Interior
Author Frederick Berlemont
Date 2008 y․

Author F. Berlemont
Date 2007 y․

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
St. Hovhannes Mkrtich