Vank Church :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Vank Church 10 — 11 cc․

Georgia / Javakhk / Aspindza / Tamala

Location
10 — 11 cc․

On the south-facing slope of a small, fine-looking gorge lying hardly one kilometre east of Tamala is preserved a church dating back to the period between the 10th and 11th centuries.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 495.

Historical Introduction

Bznuny, one of the correspondents of the “Meghu Hayastani” periodical, is the only topographer to have made reference to the church of Vank. He stresses the fact that it is an Armenian sanctuary.

«Մեղու Հայաստանի», 1873, N 15, էջ 2։ Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 497.

Description

Vank represents a uni-nave church, with a hall adjoining it on either of its southern and western sides. It almost shares the composition peculiarities of other religious monuments preserved in Azavret, Burnashen and Khando. Evidently, originally Vank used to belong to the Chalcedonian faith, and probably, it was only between the 14th and 15th centuries that it was re-consecrated according to the ritual of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Around the sanctuary, and particularly, in the south of it extends a cemetery with Armenian tombstones stylistically typical of the 15th to 17th centuries.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 497.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south-west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2004 y․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south-east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2004 y․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2004 y․

The arched entrance of its portico

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2004 y․

The dragon guarding its entrance

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2004 y․

Type Photo
View Detail
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2004 y․

A window opening from its eastern facade