Sourb Astvatzatzin Church :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Sourb Astvatzatzin Church 1899 y․

Georgia / Javakhk / Akhalkalak / Olaver

Historical Introduction

In the late 19th century, the Armenians of Olaver found it expedient to replace their old dilapidated church with a new one.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, pp. 545-546.

1899 y․

The construction of the new sanctuary was completed in 1899, only several months before the notorious pernicious earthquake: fortunately, its blows were not so severe in this village, as compared to the rest of the district.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 546.

Architectural Description

Sourb Astvatzatzin Church represents a monument built of finely-finished stone in its western facade, and undressed stone in all the other ones.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 546.

Repairs
1856 — 1857 yy․

In 1856 the newly-arrived Armenians of Olaver applied to the spiritual authorities for permission to repair the old ruined church of their village: “...it is already four years since they resettled in the ruined village of Olavert, Akhalkalak Province from Nor Korkh Village of Tzalka. They are now requesting the spiritual powers to grant them with permit to reconstruct the old destroyed church from its very foundations with their own means. Thus, informing the ecclesiastical authorities about this, they are applying to them with a petition to take it into account and make the necessary arrangements [to that end].” From the year 1857 onwards, a great number of archive documents make mention of the parish church of Olaver dedicated to the Holy Virgin. This comes to suggest that the church authorities welcomed the plans of the local inhabitants, and the latter implemented them without hesitation.

Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 56, ց. 1, գ. 3436, թ. 8։ Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, pp. 544-545.

Description
19 c․

The monument used to represent a stone building with a wooden roof.

«Արձագանք», 1885, N 3, էջ 43։ Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 545.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Repairs 1899 y․

An inscription of seven lines is carved on a marble slab placed a little above the western entrance tympanum of the church:
ՎԵՐԱՆՈՐՈԳՎԵՑ ԵԿԵ|ՂԵՑԻՆ ԱՐԹԵԱՄԲ ՀԱՆ|ԳՈՒՑԵԱԼ Տ(Է)Ր ԵՂԻՇԷ ԵՒ ԻՒՐ | ԱՄՈՒՍՆՈՅ՝ ՄԱՐԹԱ | ՅՈՎՀԱՆՆԷՍԵԱՆ | ՏԷՐ ԳԻՔՈՐԵԱՆՑԻ | 1899-ԻՆ, ՄԱՅԻՍԻ 26-ԻՆ: Transl.: The church was repaired through the means of the late Father Yeghishe and his spouse, Martha Hovhannessian Ter-Gikoriants on 26 May 1899.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 546.

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

Cross Relief

A cross relief carved on its southern wall.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 545.

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

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the north-west
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 Black-and-white negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․

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