St. Khach Church :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

St. Khach Church

Georgia / Javakhk / Akhalkalak / Akhalkalak

Location

In the central part of Akhalkalak stands Sourb Khach (Holy Cross) Church.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 66.

Historical Introduction
1830 y․

In the central part of Akhalkalak stands Sourb Khach (Holy Cross) Church, whose construction inscription, carved on its western facade, was obliterated many years ago. Fortunately, the available archive documents have preserved historical records concerning its building. They reveal that in the 1830s, the Armenian resettlers from Karin erected a church by the name of Sourb Khach with their own means.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, pp. 66-67.

1854 — 1856 yy․

By 1854, however, the sanctuary had reached such a state of decrepitude that one of the inhabitants of Akhalkalak, Mahtesy (a title used with reference to Christian believers who are known to have gone to Jerusalem on pilgrimage) Karapet Yaghubiants, applied to the spiritual powers for permission to replace it with a new one: “...a petition to the authorities of the Consistory, in which he [resident of Akhalkalak, Mahtesy Karapet Yaghubiants] wrote that after their resettlement under the protection of the almighty Russian Empire, they had built a church named Sourb Khach with their scanty means. That monument, however, was already rather old and might one day come down, endangering the lives of many believers. Thus, in order to prevent this impending danger, he intended to have it destroyed up to its very foundations on 24 April 1854, and then reconstruct it properly. Its walls [were to be erected of] stone and mortar. Its length was to amount to 13 sazhens; the width was to be the same as before, i.e. eight sazhens, and its height was to reach three sazhens. The church was also to have fifteen windows and other facilities—no means would be spared for the fulfillment of this commitment in memory of his soul and all his dead relatives...” Receiving permission from the spiritual authorities, and particularly from Catholicos Nerses V, Karapet Yaghubiants started work and completed the new church in 1856.

Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 56, ց. 1, գ. 3245, թ. 1, գ. 6408, թ. 1, 7։ Վրաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Georgia), ֆ. 204, ց. 1, գ. 985, թ. 2։ Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 67. Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 30.

Architectural Description

Sourb Khach Church (exterior dimensions: 24.7 x 16 metres) represents a domed building with a spacious hall. Inwardly, its roof and dome are supported by three pairs of pillars. Two sacristies are located on either side of the bema—something rare in Armenian architecture. In front of the only entrance of the church, opening from its western facade, stands a double-floor belfry dating back to 1856. The monument is mostly built of undressed stone, mortar and wood. It is plastered both inwardly and outwardly.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 69.

Repairs
1870 — 1895 yy․

The monument underwent repairs in 1870, 1880 and 1895.

Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 56, ց. 1, գ. 6408, թ. 1, 7։ Also see Վրաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Georgia), ֆ. 204, ց. 1, գ. 985, թ. 1-22, «Մոլորակ», 1997, N 14, էջ 4։ Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 67.

1884 y․

Primate of Akhaltskha Diocese Khoren Stepane the Archimandrite carried out some minor-scale overhaul in Sourb Khach Church during his short-term visit to Akhalkalak in 1884: “Having improved the interior of the church, the Very Reverend Father did not forget to enrich it outwardly either. On his order, its outer walls, which had totally faded, were plastered and whitewashed with lime. The neighbourhood of the sanctuary, which was filled with filth in some parts, was completely cleaned. Its roof, which had leakage, was renovated and consolidated.”

«Արձագանք», 1885, N 22, էջ 309: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 67.

1895 y․

In 1895 a project aimed mainly at the overhaul of the roof of Sourb Khach Church was submitted to the Provincial Administration for approval.

Վրաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Georgia), ֆ. 204, ց. 1, գ. 985, թ. 1: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 68.

1897 — 1899 yy․

As of late October 1897, the correspondence held for the purpose of gaining permission for the renovation of the church “existing since 1856” was still in process. In 1899 the project, envisaging the substitution of the low, earthen roof of the sanctuary for a higher one of wood, was finally ratified, the work being accomplished in the same year: “So far the repairs of our church have taken us 6,000 roubles, 4 thousand of which the sanctuary had in its budget, and 2 thousand were collected in the city. Now 1,000 roubles are missing for the completion of the work...” The church was also renovated in 1977 at the expense of the local authorities.

Վրաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Georgia), ֆ. 204, ց. 1, գ. 985, թ. 7, 12: «Մշակ», 1899, N 203, էջ 2: «Էջմիածին», 1978, Գ, էջ 624։ Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 68.

Description

The eastern facade of Sourb Khach Church bears an ornate khachkar (76 x 60 centimetres) whose stylistic peculiarities trace it back to the 9th to 10th centuries. Another cross-stone, dating from the same period, is set inside the sanctuary, in the bema. Sourb Khach Church used to possess a number of income-yielding buildings, including a barn (permission to take the means necessary for it from the diocese budget was received in 1859).

Մատենադարան, թղթ. 152, վավ. 119: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 69.

Relief, Cross Relief

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․

A cross relief inside Sourb Khach (Holy Cross) Church.

Type Copied Lapidary Inscription
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Graphical Drawing

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author Archive
Source Sketch
Date 1899 y․

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Sketch

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․

Type Photo
View Detail
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․

Type Photo
View Partial view
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․

Type Photo
View Interior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․

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