Royal Church of the Citadel Church :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Royal Church of the Citadel Church 10 — 11 cc․

Turkey / Kars / Bash-Shoragyal / Ani

Location

The monument is situated south-east of the Bagratids’ regal residence.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 66.

Historical Introduction
10 — 11 cc․

As far as its construction time is concerned, the most substantiated and trustworthy viewpoint is offered by H. Orbeli, according to whom, it was erected between the 10th and 11th centuries.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 66.

Architectural Description

However, certain compositional elements, such as the semi-circular recess found in the eastern part of the southern facade, and the ornamentation of the built-in-wall capital seen in the same recess, which is typical of the Early Middle Ages, give us grounds to suppose that the royal church of the Citadel came into being as a result of the thorough reconstruction of an older one and dates from the Bagratids’ times. The composition features and some of the architectural details and patterns of embellishment characteristic of the older monument are found in the present-day one—it is a uni-nave basilica with the following outer dimensions: 14.8 x 7.4 metres.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 66.

Description

The regal church of the Citadel was preserved standing until the mid-20th century. At present only its northern wall can be seen.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 66.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south-east
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1900 — 1910 yy․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south-west
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1900 — 1910 yy․

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

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the north-east
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1900 — 1910 yy․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1900 — 1910 yy․

A semi-circular niche in the east of the southern facade of the royal church of the Citadel (photo 1900s-1910s)

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Jean-Michel Thierry
Source Colour Negative
Date 1960 y․

An ornamented built-in-wall capital in the semi-circular niche in the east of the southern facade of the royal church of the Citadel

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1900 — 1910 yy․

The built-in-wall capitals of the northern wall of the royal church of the Citadel

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1900 — 1910 yy․

The built-in-wall capitals of the northern wall of the royal church of the Citadel