Sourb Hovhannes-Karapet (St. John the Baptist) Church

Sourb Hovhannes-Karapet (St. John the Baptist) Church 1830 y․

Georgia / Javakhk / Akhalkalak / Kartzakh

Historical Introduction
1880 — 1894 yy․

Kartzakh being one of the most populous villages in Javakhk, the local church could no longer accommodate its large community so that in the late 1880s, the construction of a new sanctuary began there: “...at present a church of hewn stone is being erected in the village, its building expenses amounting to 13,000 rubles. The villagers are carrying the stone necessary for their church from a distance of about 20 versts...”

«Նոր-Դար», 1891, N 150, էջ 3։ Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 285.

1896 y․

According to the construction inscription of the monument, it was accomplished in 1894. In fact, however, the work had not completely stopped there as late as 1896: “The village’s newly-built church of Sourb Karapet, which was founded in 1891, has not been completed so far due to the shortage of means.”95 In the same year, Yegor Avagian Davtiants from Tiflis donated 100 roubles for the continuation of work in the unfinished parts of the sanctuary.96 After the thorough completion of the church prior to 1896, the construction of its belfry started, with Bagrat Alibegian from Tiflis donating a bell for it: “Mr. Bagrat Hovhannissian Alibegiants from Tiflis, who was present at the foundation (1891) of the newly-built church of Sourb Karapet in Karzakh Village, Akhalkalak District, committed himself to providing the sanctuary with a bell at his own expense when it was completed together with its belfry. At present the latter is still in process of building, but hearing that the old small bells are broken and unfit for further service, this much respected gentleman kept his promise and sent a newly-cast bell weighing seven poods five pounds. It is engraved with the following inscription: «Բագրատ Ալիբէգեանից ի յիշատակ իւր հանգուցեալ եղբօր Յարութիւն Ալիբէգեանի...» [transl.: “From Bagrat Alibegian in memory of his late brother Harutiun Alibegian...”].”

«Նոր-Դար», 1896, N 180, էջ 3, 1898, N 13, էջ 4։ Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, pp. 285-286.

It was finally accomplished with the construction of its belfry in 1896.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 286.

Architectural Description

The exterior dimensions of the church are: 23.75 x 13.25 metres.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 286.

Foundation
1830 y․

The church of Sourb Hovhannes Karapet (St. John the Baptist) was founded in the late 1830s.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 285.

Repairs
1860 y․

In 1860 the local people intended to repair its roof and strengthen it with ramparts.

Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 56, ց. 1, գ. 4152, թ. 1։ Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 285.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Construction 1894 y․

Nine lines in the Armenian original carved on the western entrance facade of the church:
ՈՂՈՐՄՈՒԹԵԱՄԲՆ Ա(ՍՏՈՒԾՈ)Յ ԿԱՌՈՒ|ՑԱՒ Ս(ՈՒՐԲ) ԵԿԵՂԵՑԻՍ ՅԱՆՈՒՆ ՍՐԲՈՅ ԿԱՐ|ԱՊԵՏԻՆ ՅՕՎՀԱՆՆՈՒ, ԱՐԴԵԱՄԲՔ ՀԱՅ | ԱԶԳԻ ԺՈՂՈՎՐԴՈՑ ԿԱՐԶԱԽ ԳԵՂՋ, Ի | ԹՈՒԱԿԱՆԻ ՓՐԿՉԻՆ 1894 ԵՒ ՀԱՅՈՑ | ՌՅԽԳ, Ի ՀԱՅՐԱՊԵՏՈՒԹԵԱՆ | Տ. Տ. ՄԿՐՏՉԻ Ա ԿԱԹՈՂԻԿՈ|ՍԻ ԱՄ(ԵՆԱՅՆ) ՀԱՅՈՑ ԵՒ Ի ՔԱՀԱՆԱ|ՅՈՒ(Թ)Ե(ԱՆ) Տ(Է)Ր ՄԱՐՏԻՐՈՍԻ ԱԲՈՎԵԱՆ: Transl.: By the grace of the Lord, this holy church dedicated to Saint Hovhannes Karapet [John the Baptist] was built through the efforts of the Armenian inhabitants of Karzakh Village in the year 1894 A.D. and 1343 of the Armenian calendar, in the days of Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Mkrtich I and Priest Martiros Abovian.

Published in: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, pp. 286-287.

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

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south-west
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․

Partial views of the ornaments decorating its eastern facades

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

Partial views of the ornaments decorating its western facades

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

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