The Hermitage of St. Gregory of Narek Cut-in-Rock Complex

Turkey / Van / Gyavash / Paykhner

Location

The cut-in-rock complex where the prominent saint lived in total seclusion for many years was later named after him: Narekatsy’s Hermitage. It is situated amidst the rocks of the east-facing mountain branch of the northern slopes of the mountain chain of Rshtunik, on the southern shore of Lake Van, 2.6 kms north-west of the historical Armenian village of Narek (nowadays renamed Yemishlik), 1.2 km north-west of another historical Armenian village, Paykhner, which is at present called Baghlama. It is in the heart of a porous perpendicular rock (geographical coordinates: N 38°18' 24.13," E 42°54' 03.27") of lime deposit, at an altitude of about 2,100 metres above sea level.

Hakobian Ashot, The Hermitage of St. Gregory of Narek, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 5, p. 21.

Historical Introduction
10 c․

The renowned Armenian archimandrite, poet, philosopher and musician of the 10th century, Gregory of Narek (known as Grigor Narekatsy), was born in 951 in the family of Khosrov Andzevatsy. Together with his elder brother Hovhannes, he received education in Narek Monastery, Vaspurakan Province, Armenia Maior, his teacher being its Prior Anania Narekatsy, his mother’s uncle. After the Father Superior had yielded up his spirit to God, Hovhannes replaced him, and Grigor was ordained as a celibate priest, becoming a teacher for hermits. In 977 carrying out King Gurgen Artzruny’s order, he wrote An Interpretation of the Song of Songs; in 983 he put down the history of the foundation and building of Aparanits Sourb Khach Monastery of Khizan at the request of Bishop Stepanos of Moks. Gregory of Narek is also the author of a number of odes, pieces of preaching and poetic writings, but the masterpiece of his creative activity is his Prayer Book, Matyan Voghbergutyan (Book of Lamentation), which was completed in 1002. He died after his brother’s departure from earthly life, in 1003, and was buried close to the eastern wall of St. Sandukht Church of Narek Monastery. Later a domed sepulchre was erected over his grave, which became a famous site of pilgrimage. Gregory of Narek is one of those saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church who have their special feast days: his memory is celebrated at the festival of the Holy Translators, when commemoration ceremonies are also held for the inventor of the Armenian alphabet, Mesrop Mashtots, 5th-century historiographers Yeghishe and Movses Khorenatsi, as well as philosophers David Anhaght (the Invincible) and Nerses Shnorhali. There exist two legends connected with the name of St. Gregory of Narek.

Վարք սրբոց, Բեյրութ, 1975, էջ 591-595: The first legend is as follows: when malignant gossip about St. Gregory acquired larger scale, the bishops, archimandrites, princes and village heads gathered to discuss his behaviour. He was sent for to appear before court. When the delegates went to the saint, he met them in a high mood and started treating them. It was Friday, a fast day, but he treated them to roast doves as if he did not know what day it was. When the guests refused helping themselves to the dish saying that it was Friday, Gregory apologised and ordered the doves to fly away to their swarm. They obeyed, and the amazed delegates knelt before him, asking for his pardon: this put an end to the case against St. Gregory (Վարք սրբոց, էջ 593-594). According to the second legend, once, while praying in his Hermitage, Narekatsy saw the Holy Virgin, with infant Jesus in her arms, on Arter Island of Lake Van. This vision encouraged the saint to descend from his secluded place and go towards the Holy Mother of God walking over the waters of the lake. When he reached her, she gave the child to him and said: “Take your Lord.” Narekatsy tells his reader about this vision in his Poem of Birth (Tagh Tzenendian in Armenian) and in the 12th and 27th chapters of his Prayer-Book (Սարգիսեան Ն., Տեղագրութիւնք ի Փոքր եւ Մեծ Հայս, Վենետիկ, 1864, էջ 253). Hakobian Ashot, The Hermitage of St. Gregory of Narek, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 5, p. 21.

Architectural Description

The caved complex of the Hermitage consists of three floors rising on one another. The first one occupies a smaller area than the other two, which begin in accordance with the northern edge of the first storey, extend farther southwards and end beneath the jutting arched upper section of the rock. All the floors have rooms with smoothly-finished walls and ceilings which are bare of any ornamentation. They are illuminated through the openings of the outer eastern wall which overlook Lake Van. The first floor is comparatively easier of access than the other two; besides, it has no internal connection with the upper ones. Probably, it was intended for pilgrims, while the second and third floors were for hermits, and for this reason, the visitors of the Hermitage ignore its first floor and describe it as a double-floor cut-in-rock complex.

Hakobian Ashot, The Hermitage of St. Gregory of Narek, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 5, p. 24.

The first storey, which rises at a height of about 7.5 metres above ground, consists of two sections: an entrance hall (1) and a church (2). The remnants of the steps leading to this floor are preserved in the eastern part of the former, but nowadays it may be entered through a collapsed part of the eastern wall of the church sanctuary. The entrance hall (1), which has an irregular plan, represents a semi-cut-in-rock cave (maximum dimensions: 6.10 x 3.70 metres) with a large opening in the east, its height gradually diminishing inwardly from 2.60 to 1.80 metres. Its walls preserve remnants of niches, the edge of the eastern wall retaining the upper section of a window. The church door opens from the northern wall of the entrance hall. A large triangular pit resembling a font and having a canal-shaped projection can be seen on its floor. The church (2) represents a uni-nave cut-in-rock structure (maximum dimensions: 2.80 x 2.20 metres), comprising a hall of a rhombus-like quadrangular plan, which has a longitudinal axis (extension: north-east-south-west). Its sanctuary, which almost resembles a semi-circle in plan, stretches from the east westward. There are cut-in-rock seats close to the longitudinal walls of the hall, which is covered with a flat vault beginning from slanting cornices. In the west, this vault is lower (2.41 metres) than in the east (2.64 metres). There is a large arched recess of small depth above the door which opens from the centre of the western wall. The bema of the sanctuary rises at a height of 0.35 metre above the floor. The northern wall of the sanctuary has an arched niche, and the eastern one a window beneath which there is another recess: only some remnants of this window and niche are preserved due to the ruin of the eastern wall. At present a section of the church hall, from its south-western corner to the southern side of the door, is destroyed, and for this reason, the church and the entrance hall are perceived as forming a single whole.

Hakobian Ashot, The Hermitage of St. Gregory of Narek, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 5, pp. 24-25.

The second floor, which rises at a height of about 13 metres above the ground, is quite difficult of access, its entrance opening into the perpendicular rock: it is situated above the window of the sanctuary of the church of the first floor and rises at a height of 5.40 metres. In order to reach the entrance to the second storey, one should ascend to the eastern side of the church of the first one through a narrow path stretching beneath the rock in the north of the cut-in-rock complex, then climb up the pits cut into the perpendicular rock for hands and feet. The second floor consists of a corridor (3), a large quadrangular room (4), a small quadrangular one (5) and a multangular chamber (6). The corridor (3) is a narrow means of communication (maximum dimensions: 2.83 x 1.46 metres, height: 1.54 to 1.67 metres) which begins with the entrance opening and ends in a narrow door leading into the large quadrangular room following the corridor. Its longitudinal axis is parallel to that of the hall of the church of the first floor and has the following extension: north-east-south-west. The corridor entrance has a view of Lake Van and the island of Arter. The large quadrangular room (4), which is scantily illuminated (dimensions: 4.65 x 3.18 metres, maximum height: 2 metres), has an irregular quadrangular plan. Its longitudinal axis forms the continuation of that of the corridor. A narrow circular window, located below the ceiling, in the south-eastern corner of the room, opens outwards, while in its south-western corner, close to the floor, a semi-circular niche extends at almost the whole height of the wall (there is a small circular pit on the floor of this recess). A tonir-shaped cavity (diameter: 0.64 metre, depth: 0.40 metre) is dug on the floor of this room, in its central part: like those in the glkhatuns of village houses, these pits were for fire, but the ceiling does not have a chimney, and a round window used to perform its function. Probably, this chamber was the refectory of the hermits. The large room communicates with the smaller quadrangular one through a door opening from the western part of the southern wall. The small quadrangular room (5) has a smooth ceiling of a height of 2.24 metres. It (dimensions: 2.95 x 2.69 metres) is amply illuminated thanks to a large door-shaped opening in the southern part of the outer eastern wall (this opening extends almost at the whole height of the wall). Left of this opening, equal to the floor, there is a small semi-circular niche from which a narrow circular hole opens outwards. A large, deep and vaulted niche is dug in the shape of an apse in the western wall of the room, at a height of 0.68 metre above the floor. In the centre of its western wall, there is a hole which opens into a well (dimensions: 2.23 x 2.08 metres, maximum height: 3 metres) of round angles and a rectangular plan. In its upper section, this well is narrower than in the lower one, where it is in part beneath the apse-shaped recess (probably, it was a water basin or served as a barn). There are several other niches in the northern and eastern walls, those of the northern one being small and regular, while those of the eastern one are larger and irregular. A small round hole in the middle section between the northern wall and the ceiling corner opens into the floor of the church of the third floor: it was probably intended for conveying the warm air of the second floor to the church. There are newly-excavated holes—the handiwork of those searching treasure there—on the floor of the room, in its south-western and north-eastern corners. The two large door-shaped openings (the northern one is rectangular, and the southern one is shaped like a table) of the level ceiling open into the third floor. The cut-in-rock stairway of the southern wall, which comprises five step holes, go up the third floor through this table-shaped opening. Probably, the rectangular hole was for carrying different things from the second storey to the third one and vice versa. A door, opening from the eastern edge of the southern wall, leads to the multangular room (6). The western wall of this chamber (maximum dimensions: 2.76 x 2.51 metres, height: 2 metres) has an arched niche, and three pits can be seen close to the same wall, above the floor. The two openings of the wall of the north-western corner of the room connect the small quadrangular and multangular rooms. From the western part of the southern wall opens a small, room-like recess (dimensions: 1.55 x 1.14 metre) which rises at a height of 0.66 metre above the floor. In front of it, on the floor of the room, there are two pits which are connected by means of a narrow opening. One of them is circular; the other extends in length and resembles a font having a narrow circular outcome jutting from its exterior wall. Probably, the multangular chamber was the hermits’ kitchen, and the room-like niche of the southern wall was used for storage purposes. The second floor of the complex served for everyday needs and was its utility section.

Hakobian Ashot, The Hermitage of St. Gregory of Narek, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 5, pp. 25-28.

The third storey, which is the highest in the complex, was mainly used for religious worship. It consists of a pentagonal room ¥7¤, a quadrangular one ¥8¤, a church ¥9¤ and Narekatsy’s Hermitage ¥10¤. The pentagonal room ¥7¤ has an irregular plan (maximum dimensions: 3.70 x 2.78 metres, maximum height: 2.20 metres), its floor gradually rising inward. On the floor, almost in the centre of the room, a square pit is excavated, with another, smaller oval one in its north-eastern corner. The southern wall of the room has a high recess the floor of which is lower than that of the chamber. It used to be illuminated through a window opening from its eastern wall. The outer eastern wall is ruined at all its length, from the floor to half its height, and only the upper part of the window is preserved in the centre of the large opening that appeared as a result of this destruction. The room has a gable ceiling extending from the north southward. The multangular chamber communicates with the quadrangular one through two doors opening from its north-western corner and the central part of its northern wall. The quadrangular room ¥8¤, the floor of which is lower than that of the multangular one by 0.37 metre, has a smooth ceiling of a height of 2.01 metres. There are two door-shaped openings at the eastern edge of the floor of this room (dimensions: 4.65 x 3.00 metres), the southern of which (dimensions: 1.13 x 0.70 metre) leads to the third floor via the cut-in-rock steps of the second storey. The borderline of each of these openings is dug at greater circumference on the surface of the floor. These borderlines give us grounds to presume that these openings used to have wooden shutters which were equal to the floor surface. In the western part of the floor, there is a tonir-shaped rectangular pit (0.96 x 0.87 metre) with two vertical canal-shaped hollows. The western wall has three niches of varying height. A narrow window opens from the north-eastern corner of the outer eastern wall, below the ceiling, and there is a large door-shaped opening in its south-eastern corner. There are two small niches on the right and left sides of the door which opens from the northern wall. This door leads into a uni-nave church (maximum dimensions: 4.78 x 2.30 metres) which is lower than the quadrangular room by 0.38 metre. It ¥9¤ is the religious building of the hermits once living in these caves. Its hall has a quadrangular plan (dimensions: 2.93 x 2.30 metres, height: 2.60 metres) and a level vault. The church has an arched sanctuary of a horseshoe-shaped plan (the bema has a height of 0.45 metre) from the eastern wall of which a window opens. Each of the northern and southern walls of the sanctuary has a niche. Due to the collapse of some section of the eastern wall of the sanctuary, below the window, a large opening has appeared through which ample light is let into the church. A hardly eligible two-line inscription is preserved on the left side of the door, on the northern wall of the hall: §...ÏÙóÇ | ...áõëï¿Ý¦ (transl.: “... uste”). The walls, ceiling and sanctuary of the church were covered with plaster some remnants of which are still preserved. A door, opening from the eastern edge of the northern wall of the church hall, leads into a small chapel/praying place which is traditionally assumed to be the Hermitage of St. Gregory of Narek (10)—he spent many years here in seclusion, and it was here that he wrote his unsurpassed work, the Book of Lamentation.

Hakobian Ashot, The Hermitage of St. Gregory of Narek, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 5, pp. 28-30.

In the east, the small prayer hall (dimensions: 1.09 x 1.07 metre, height: 1.86 metre) of the chapel has a rectangular sanctuary (dimensions: 1.47 x 1.32 m) the bema of which rises at a height of 0.14 metre above the floor. Both the prayer hall and the sanctuary have level ceilings. The latter is deviated from the prayer hall with a longitudinal axis stretching from the east westward and has the following extension: north-east-south-west. The western wall of the prayer hall has a small niche with some small holes on its floor—as legend has it, they mark the traces of Narekatsy’s knees and elbows and appeared after his countless genuflexions. The northern wall of the sanctuary has an arched recess, and the window of its southern wall opens into the northern niche of the church, thanks to which, the sanctuary of the Hermitage gets light from that of the church. Close to the eastern wall of the sanctuary of the Hermitage, there used to be a cut-in-rock altar only the altar-stone of which is preserved, while its upper part has been ruined (probably by those searching treasure here). The cross-stone described by Vardan of Khanasor can no longer be found. The floor is covered with the remnants of the destroyed upper section of the altar, due to which, the pits of the floor are not visible.

Խանասորա Վարդանի հիշատակարանը, Երևան, 1992, էջ 66: Hakobian Ashot, The Hermitage of St. Gregory of Narek, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 5, pp. 30-31.

Description

It is located in the central part of perpendicular rocks (where their height reaches its maximum, i.e. 24 metres) which extend from the north southward at a length of about 125 metres. The northern half of the rock abounds in large and small natural cavities (its southern half does not have such natural hollows), with large masses of rock lying beneath this part. Farther southward, the height of the rock gradually diminishes so that it terminates in a slanting stony slope. A waterfall used to exist at its southern extremity, within about 40 metres of the cut-in-rock complex, Yer. Lalayan stating the following about it: “A little far from the cavern, on its southern side, a waterfall cascades from the rock elevation to slightly disturb the boundless serenity of these caves.” Later the water of this cascade was conveyed through a canal for the irrigation of the gardens of the village of Paykhner now inhabited by Kurds so that at present only its dried up bed can be seen.

Լալայեան Ե., Վասպուրական. Նշանավոր վանքեր. Նարեկայ վանք, «Ազգագրական Հանդէս», գիրք XXI, 1911, էջ 41. This waterfall was also described by H. Ajemian: “...whence we gazed at the cool and clear cascade falling down the top of the rock, its sweet water, the drops of which resembled pearls, merging into the salty water of the sea” (Աճեմեան Հ., Հայրենի յիշատակներ, Ա, Դէպի Նարեկայ վանքը, Էջմիածին, 1918, էջ 10): Hakobian Ashot, The Hermitage of St. Gregory of Narek, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 5, p. 22.

“...A splendid view opens up [from the Hermitage]: the islands of Arter and Aghtamar protrude in the blue waters of the lake, with Mount Artos rising slightly north-east. Right opposite it, the city of Van extends, while a little south-east Mount Varag [is seen] with its peaks of Astghkaberd [Astghik Castle] and Galilia, which shine in the variegated light of the dawn every morning.”

Լալայեան Ե., Վասպուրական. Նշանավոր վանքեր. Նարեկայ վանք, «Ազգագրական Հանդէս», գիրք XXI, 1911, էջ 41: Hakobian Ashot, The Hermitage of St. Gregory of Narek, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 5, p. 22.

We find it expedient to make some comments on this description which was written more than a century ago: since 1951 the famous monastery of Narek, boasting an ancient history, has disappeared from this scene, and its domes, which were in such great harmony with its surroundings, have been replaced by the pointed white minaret of a mosque erected in the 1970s in the Kurdish village of Yemishlik.

Narek Monastery was destroyed in 1951 on the order of the Province Municipality. Information substantiating this statement can be found in the official website of Gyavash District: www.gevas.gov.tr/default_B1.aspx?content=1027. Hakobian Ashot, The Hermitage of St. Gregory of Narek, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 5, p. 22.

The first topographer to provide a brief description of Narekatsy’s Hermitage is N. Sargissian: “The structure is divided in two floors, lower and upper, which have nine rooms together, five on the first one, and four on the second. These storeys overlook the sea [viz. Lake Van], each of them having a window-shaped opening. It has a single entrance door through which it is slightly difficult to go into, and out of, the rock. Via the first entrance one can have access to the lower floor through the doors opening from a room into another. One of these chambers has a round hollow which is about a kangun deep. It remains obscure whether it is a font or was used for some other purpose. One can easily ascend to the upper floor from the lower one: similarly, it has four rooms which communicate with each other through doors opening into one another. One of them is a small chapel with an altar stone: the saint is said to have held divine service here.”

Սարգիսեան Ն., Տեղագրութիւնք ի Փոքր եւ Մեծ Հայս, Վենետիկ, 1864, էջ 253: Hakobian Ashot, The Hermitage of St. Gregory of Narek, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 5, pp. 22-23.

There also exist several other brief descriptions of the Hermitage handed down to us by visitors of the subsequent periods, but a more detailed one is provided by Yer. Lalayan: “These caves are arranged on one another and form three floors. The lower one is quite easy of access. In order to ascend towards the middle one, you need to pass through extremely narrow paths, and to overcome the ascent of the third one, you should take off your shoes and climb up the already worn out stone steps with the utmost care. Nevertheless, very few succeed in ascending to the third floor. The cave chambers of the lower floor are not so very remarkable. Upon climbing up the second one, we first find ourselves in a hall which has a length of about 3 metres, a width of 2 metres and a height of 1.1/2 (1.5) metre. From this hall, a door-like opening leads to another cave of 2 metres which is square. On the western side of the latter, there is an arched pit which has a height of 1.1/2 metre, an equal width and a depth of a metre. A little farther, there is some space of a height of half a metre which is shaped like a bema, and where there is a two-metre-deep cavity (probably, a water reservoir used to exist here)... A door cut in the southern wall of this cave leads to another which has a length of 2 metres and a width of 1.1/2 metre. Another sizeable hole, looking like a sanctuary, can be seen in its western wall: it has a height of a metre, an equal depth and a width of 0.70 metre. In front of it, a pit, shaped like a tonir, can be seen, with its opening overlooking the east. A stone stairway of five steps leads from this middle floor to the first hall of the upper, i.e. third, storey, which has a length of 3 metres, a width of 2 metres and a height of 1.1/3 metre. This hall has two east-facing openings one of which is large and the other smaller. Its floor has two quadrangular holes which open into the second hall of the middle floor. One of its corners has a tonir-shaped cavity, with niches in its walls. A door cut in the northern wall opens into another cave with an arch-shaped roof which has a length of 2 metres, a width of 1.1/2 metre and a height of 3 metres. On the eastern side, there is a semi-circular sanctuary with a one-metre-high bema: apparently, it was the general prayer hall of the anchorites dwelling in this Hermitage. Near the sanctuary, there is an east-looking opening through which ample light is let in. A door, opening from the northern wall of this main cave, leads into a small cave which is hardly 1.1/2 metre long and a metre wide, with an altar-stone on its eastern side, and some small pits on its floor. It is traditionally believed that this is the place where St. Gregory of Narek generally prayed to God, these small pits having supposedly formed as a result of his countless genuflexions.”

Լալայեան Ե., Վասպուրական. Նշանավոր վանքեր. Նարեկայ վանք, «Ազգագրական Հանդէս», գիրք XXI, 1911, էջ 41-42: Hakobian Ashot, The Hermitage of St. Gregory of Narek, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 5, p. 23.

The description offered by Vardan of Khanasor is much briefer, but of great interest: “There were special places for putting feet while ascending to the cavern. Quite an extensive and beautiful cavern was cut into the mountain with comfortable and regular rooms each of which had clean and neatly-hewn walls, a ceiling and a floor. It consisted of two floors. The three lower rooms had tonirs for baking bread, and the upper one retained a khachkar (cross-stone) and an altar-stone: it was evident that it had been used as a praying place, but in what times? Who knows? This was St. Grigor Narekatsy’s cavern... Local people called it Narekatsy’s Praying Place...”

Խանասորա Վարդանի հիշատակարանը, Երևան, 1992, էջ 66: Hakobian Ashot, The Hermitage of St. Gregory of Narek, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 5, p. 23.

There also exist other descriptions of this cut-in-rock hermitage, but they do not add anything essential to the aforementioned information. It is noteworthy that these records are not unanimous in mentioning the number of the cut-in-rock rooms.

Khrimian Hayrik (Catholicos of All Armenians Mkrtich Khrimian) wrote the following after his visit to the Hermitage of Narekatsy: “Close to this village, in its north-west, there is a rocky mountain containing six caves, three upper and three lower ones. One of them has an altar: this was Narekatsy’s prayer place...” (Հրաւիրակ Արարատեան, յօրինեալ ի ափս Հայկականս ի Մկրտչէ Խրըմեան Վանեցւոյ, Կ. Պոլիս, 1850, էջ 95). G. Servandztiants describes the cut-in-rock complex in the following way: “Apart from Narekatsy’s sepulchre, there is another holy, sacred place where his memory is alive—it is his prayer place, his Hermitage, the place of his spiritual flights, situated north of the monastery, within half an hour’s distance. It represents a double-floor rock of nine caves with only a single way leading upwards: a straight wall of stone and several tiny niches for hands and feet to put there while climbing up” (Վարդ, Նարեկի վանքը, «Արաքս», 1898, Ա, էջ 82). G. Sherents writes: “...Hundreds of believers devoutedly go on pilgrimage to the sacred site lying on the slope of the rocky mountain, above the village of Paykhner-Gomer, sometimes climbing up, sometimes slipping and even falling down, but resuming the ascent over and over again. It is the cave/prayer place of sworn anchorites comprising upper-floor cut-in-rock rooms, six in number, with stone altars, each of which has a cross and candlesticks. All these are the embellishment of the cavern” (Շէրենց Գ., Սրբավայրեր, Թիֆլիս, 1902, էջ 127-128). H. Ajemian’s description is brief: “The praying place consists of nine cut-in-rock cells which are connected through small openings. There is a stone altar in Narekatsy’s prayer room proper...” (Աճեմեան Հ., Հայրենի յիշատակներ, Ա, Դէպի Նարեկայ վանքը, Էջմիածին, 1918, էջ 11). Prose writer Raffi (Hakob Melik-Hakobian) offers the following description of the cut-in-rock complex: “But above all, the most interesting are the caves where Narekatsy used to live in seclusion. Close to the sea shore (he means Lake Van - translator), within an hour of Narek Village, another rock rises with several large and small natural caves inside it. Apart from these, nine rooms are cut into the same elevated rock: they date back to times immemorial and are arranged on two floors, five of them comprising the lower storey, and the [remaining] four the upper one. That stone-made abode of ancient Armenian troglodytes is so impregnable and so high above the ground that only a miracle-working personality like Narekatsy could have had access there. The main door opens into the first room of the lower floor, the other inner doors leading to the other chambers and eventually reaching the upper storey. Every room has a window overlooking the sea. One of the upper-storey ones resembles a small chapel with a stone altar: it was here that Narekatsy lived and it was here that he wrote his superb book” (Րաֆֆի, Կայծեր, Երկերի ժողովածու, հ. V, Երևան, 1963, էջ 314-315). Khrimian Hayrik and G. Sherents describe the complex as consisting of 6 rooms, 3 upper- and 3 lower-floor ones: they did not count the corridor of the 2nd floor and the Hermitage of the 3rd one. N. Sargissian, G. Servandztiants, H. Ajemian and Raffi mention 9 rooms, 4 of which are on the upper floor and 5 on the lower one. They considered the large niche adjoining the southern multangular chamber of the lower floor as a separate room. Yer. Lalayan ignores the corridor of the 2nd floor and the southern pentagonal room of the 3rd one in his description of the complex. Hakobian Ashot, The Hermitage of St. Gregory of Narek, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 5, pp. 23-24.

The Hermitage of Narekatsy is a sacred place of pilgrimage the value of which grows even higher thanks to its remarkable architectural features. It is a peculiar complex of medieval cut-in-rock architecture comprising sections of both everyday use and religious worship each of which is located on a distinct floor.

Hakobian Ashot, The Hermitage of St. Gregory of Narek, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 5, p. 32.

Research Materials

The hermitage was visited by a number of prominent pilgrims—Father Nerses Sargissian, Khrimian Hayrik, Garegin Servandztiants, Gevorg Sherents, Yervand Lalayan, Hayk Ajemian, Raffi and Vardan of Khanasor—who left some records about it.

Սարգիսեան Ն., Տեղագրութիւնք ի Փոքր եւ Մեծ Հայս, Վենետիկ, 1864, էջ 253: Հրաւիրակ Արարատեան, յօրինեալ ի ափս Հայկականս ի Մկրտչէ Խրըմեան Վանեցւոյ, Կ. Պոլիս, 1850, էջ 95: Վարդ, Նարեկի վանքը, «Արաքս», 1898, Ա, էջ 82: Շէրենց Գ., Սրբավայրեր, Թիֆլիս, 1902, էջ 127-129: Լալայեան Ե., Վասպուրական. Նշանավոր վանքեր. Նարեկայ վանք, «Ազգագրական Հանդէս», գիրք XXI, 1911, էջ 41-42: Աճեմեան Հ., Հայրենի յիշատակներ, Ա, Դէպի Նարեկայ վանքը, Էջմիածին, 1918, էջ 10-12: Րաֆֆի, Կայծեր, Երկերի ժողովածու, հ. V, Երևան, 1963, էջ 314-315: Խանասորա Վարդանի հիշատակարանը, Երևան, 1992, էջ 66: Hakobian Ashot, The Hermitage of St. Gregory of Narek, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 5, p. 21.

In October 2010 and August 2011, the members of Research on Armenian Architecture (RAA) Foundation visited the Hermitage of Narekatsy and studied it from a professional point of view.

Hakobian Ashot, The Hermitage of St. Gregory of Narek, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 5, p. 22.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The Hermitage of St. Grigor Narekatsy, with the mountain range separating Moks from Rshtunik in the distance

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2007 y․

A general view of the Hermitage of St. Grigor Narekatsy from the east

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2010 y․

The scene in front of the Hermitage of St. Grigor Narekatsy with the islands of Arter and Aghtamar

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2010 y․

A view of Narek Village (with Mount Artos in the distance) opening from the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The porch (1) preserved on the first floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The church (2) preserved on the first floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The corridor (3) preserved on the second floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The corridor (3) preserved on the second floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The large quadrangular (4) chamber located on the second floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Raffi Kortoshian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2010 y․

The large quadrangular (4) chamber located on the second floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The small quadrangular (5) chamber located on the second floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The small quadrangular (5) chamber located on the second floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The multangular (6) chamber located on the second floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The multangular (6) chamber located on the second floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The pentagonal (7) chamber on the third floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The pentagonal (7) chamber on the third floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The quadrangular (8) chamber on the third floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The quadrangular (8) chamber on the third floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The quadrangular (8) chamber on the third floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The quadrangular (8) chamber on the third floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The church (9) on the third floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The church (9) on the third floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The church (9) on the third floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

The church (9) on the third floor of the Hermitage

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Narekatsy’s Hermitage (10) situated on the third floor of the complex

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Narekatsy’s Hermitage (10) situated on the third floor of the complex

Type Graphical Drawing
View Exterior
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Graphical Drawing
Date 2011 y․

A sketch of the Hermitage Complex from the east

Type Measurement
View General
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch
Date 2011 y․

A general plan of the three-floor Hermitage Complex

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch
Date 2011 y․

The plan of the porch (1) and church (2) preserved on the first floor of the Hermitage

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch
Date 2011 y․

The plan of the corridor (3), large quadrangular room (4), small quadrangular chamber (5) and the multangular one (6) preserved on the second floor of the Hermitage

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch
Date 2011 y․

The plan of the pentagonal room (7), quadrangular chamber (8), church (9) and Narekatsy’s Hermitage (10) situated on the third floor of the complex

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Direction From the east
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch
Date 2011 y․

A section of the Hermitage Complex towards the east (A – A)

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Direction From the west
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch
Date 2011 y․

A section of the Hermitage Complex towards the west (B – B)

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Direction From the east
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch
Date 2011 y․

A section of the Hermitage Complex towards the east (C – C)

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Direction From the west
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch
Date 2011 y․

Sections of the Hermitage Complex towards the west (D – D)

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Direction From the south
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch
Date 2011 y․

A section of the Hermitage Complex towards the south (E – E)

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Direction From the north
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch
Date 2011 y․

A section of the Hermitage Complex towards the north (F – F)

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Direction From the north
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch
Date 2011 y․

A section of the Hermitage Complex towards the north (G– G)

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Direction From the south
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch
Date 2011 y․

A section of the Hermitage Complex towards the south (H – H)

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Direction From the south
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch
Date 2011 y․

A section of the Hermitage Complex towards the south (I – I)