Sourb Khach (Holy Cross) Chapel :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Sourb Khach (Holy Cross) Chapel

Georgia / Javakhk / Aspindza / Khezabavra

Historical Introduction

Sourb Khach (Holy Cross) Chapel. Only a single record is available relating to an ancient chapel preserved in the territory of Khezabavra: “There also exists an ancient chapel of stone dedicated to the Holy Cross.”

«Օրացոյց եւ պատկեր տօնից», Թիֆլիս, 1916, էջ 81։ Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 239.

Description
19 c․

Above the eastern window of this chapel is found an inscription in the Georgian Mesropian script. In the late 19th century, it was covered with a layer of mortar which, however, did not bury it altogether so that it can be seen and read.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 239.

Inscription, Georgian Mesropian, Engraved, Commemoration 11 c․

E. Taghayshvili deciphers the inscription as follows:
ქ(რისტ)ე შ(ეიწყალ)ე ძრჲ? ს(უ)ლი და გ(იორგ)ი ქ(რისტ)ე შ(ეიწყალ)ე. Transl.: Christ, may You have mercy upon ... soul and Christ, may You have mercy upon Giorgi.

Published in: Brosset M., Rapports (II) sur un voyage archéologique dans la Géorgie et dans l’Armenie éxecuté en (1847-1848) par M. Brosset, livre 2, St-Pb., 1850, pp. 152-153, էջ 176։ Такайшвили Е., Археологическая экспедиция 1971-го года в южные провинции Грузии, Тбилиси, 1952, стр. 18: “ჯავახეთი. ისტორიულ-ხუროთმოძღვრული გზამკვლევი”, էջ 87: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 241. Note: The editorial staff of “ჯავახეთი. ისტორიულ-ხუროთმოძღვრული გზამკვლევი” traces the inscription back to the 11th century.

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

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

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

A Georgian Mesropian inscription carved above the window opening from its eastern facade.