Aghjkaberd Church :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Aghjkaberd Church

Turkey / Kars / Bash-Shoragyal / Ani

Location

The church of Aghjkaberd Monastery stands on a mass of rock rising between the Akhurian and its right tributary, i.e. the Tzaghkots, at the southern extremity of Ani.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 147.

Historical Introduction

According to an inscription engraved on the southern wall of the church—now it is in a fallen state, but luckily, the inscription was read in due time—it was founded by Gregory the Enlightener, who, as legend has it, erected it after having pulled down the pagan temple to goddess Anahit standing in its site.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 147.

1920 y․

After 1920 the facing stones of the monument were removed and carried away for the purpose of eventually destroying it—as a result of this, its southern and eastern facades were stripped of their stonework, remaining standing only thanks to their mortar base. The former has already tumbled down, while the latter is approaching the same state with every single passing day (the same perfidious action led to the collapse of the southern facade of Mren Church in 2005).

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 147.

Architectural Description

In the course of centuries, the church appeared in a state of utter decay so that between the 12th and 13th centuries, the princes Yerkaynabazuk had the present-day one erected in its site. It represents a central-domed rectangular structure with double-floor sacristies in its four corners. It has two entrances opening from its western and southern facades. Each of all the four facades of the church has two triangular niches.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 147.

Exterior dimensions: 15.4 x 9.7 metres.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 147.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south-west
Author Toros Toramanian
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1906 y․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south-east
Author Hrayr-Baze Khacherian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2008 y․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the north-west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2006 y․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the north-west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2010 y․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south-east
Author Hrayr-Baze Khacherian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2008 y․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south-east
Author Toros Toramanian
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1906 y․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south-east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2006 y․

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author Toros Toramanian
Source Sketch
Date 1906 y․

The plan of the church of Aghjkaberd

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Toros Toramanian
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1906 y․

The sanctuary of the church of Aghjkaberd

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2006 y․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Toros Toramanian
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1906 y․

An inscription on the southern facade of the church of Aghjkaberd

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2006 y․

The remnants of the inscription carved on the southern (now fallen) facade of the church of Aghjkaberd

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2006 y․

The remnants of the inscription carved on the southern (now fallen) facade of the church of Aghjkaberd