Sourb Astvatzatzin Church :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Sourb Astvatzatzin Church 1869 y․

Georgia / Javakhk / Akhalkalak / Baralet

Historical Introduction
1839 y․

Two archive documents (dated 1839 and 1841) call the church of Baralet Sourb Khach (Holy Cross), but the subsequent available sources which are quite large in number mention it by the name of Sourb Astvatzatzin (Holy Virgin) up until the first years of the Soviet rule. In 1869 the existing older church was replaced by a new one bearing the same name.

Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 457, թ. 42-67. Also see գ. 3798։ «Նոր-Դար», 1895, N 150, էջ 3։ K. Mayisuradze erroneously mentions 1889 as the year of the construction of the church (მაისურაძე კ., ჯავახეთში ქართული სკოლები იხურდება, “Georgian Times”, N 24, 17-24.06.2004.) Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 105.

Architectural Description

The latter, which is preserved standing, represents a stone building (exterior dimensions: 18.00 x 9.86 metres) with a roof and pillars of wood. Its only entrance opens from the west. The western pediment of the sanctuary is surmounted by an eight-column belfry ending in a pointed broach. Sourb Astvatzatzin Church is surrounded by ramparts which have gates opening from their western and southern parts.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 105.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Repairs 1869 y․

Five lines in the Armenian original of an inscription carved on the entrance tympanum of the church:
1869 | ՎԵՐԱՆՈՐՈԳԵՑԱՒ Ս(ՈՒՐ)Բ ԵԿԵՂԵՑԻՍ ՅԱՆ|ՈՒՆ ԱՄԵՆԱՄԱՔՈՒՐ ՍՈՒՐԲ Ա(ՍՏՈՒԱ)ԾԱԾՆԻ, ԱՇ|ԽԱՏՈՒԹԵԱՄԲ ԵՒ ԾԱԽԻՒՔ ՀԱՅ ԺՈՂՈՎՐԴԱԿԱՆ | ԲԱՐԱԼԷԹ ԳԵՂՋ ԵՒ ԽՐԱՏԻՒՔ ԿԱՐԱՊԵՏ Ք(Ա)Հ(Ա)Ն(Ա)ՅԻ Տ(Է)Ր ԿԱՐԱՊԵՏԵ(Ա)Ն: Transl.: [In] 1869 this holy church, dedicated to the Immaculate Holy Virgin, was repaired through the efforts and means of the Armenian people of Baralet Village and with the expostulations of Priest Karapet Ter-Karapetian.

Published in: Սամվել Կարապետյան, Ջավախք, Երևան, 2006, էջ 105: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, pp. 105-106.

Type Photo
View Partial view
Direction From the south-east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․

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

The only entrance of the church opening from its western facade.

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

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

The belfry surmounting its western pediment.

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

The gate of its enclosure.

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Sourb Khach