Jukhtak Monastery :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Jukhtak Monastery

RA (Republic of Armenia) / Tavush / Noyemberian / Voskepar

Location

Jukhtak Monastery is situated on a wooded south-east-facing mountain branch on the left side of the river Voskepar, 8 km south-west of the village, at an altitude of 1,278 metres above sea level (N 41°01՛54.60՛՛; E 044°57՛27.60՛՛).

Karapetian Samvel, The Historical Monuments of Voskepar, Yerevan, 2013, p. 34.

Description

The popular name of Jukhtak means a pair, but in fact, it consists of four religious structures (three churches and a chapel) following one another within a small distance, from the north southward. Two of the former and the latter are still preserved standing, whereas the largest church of the monastery is in a semi-ruined state.

Karapetian Samvel, The Historical Monuments of Voskepar, Yerevan, 2013, p. 34.

Monuments

Below follows a description of these four sanctuaries according to their location from the north southward. The first church is a uni-nave double-apse vaulted structure of a gable roof (exterior dimensions: 6.35 x 4.59 metres). It is mainly built of the local undressed stone (also partly of hewn stone) and mortar. The cornices and semi-cylindrical covering slabs, which are partly preserved, are finely-finished. The church has a single entrance opening from its western facade. Light is let in through a window widening inwardly opening from each of its two apses and western facade. As far as the ornamentation of the church is concerned, particularly noteworthy is its western facade, which bears three (maybe, formerly even more) ornate cross-stones set in it right during the construction of the monument. Besides, there is also a rosette carved on the upper part of the pediment. Given the fact that the whole monument is built of undressed stone, the finely-finished cornice, which runs around it, is perceived as an artistic element of decoration emphasizing all the four facades. This component of ornamentation, which may also be regarded as a peculiar manifestation of free thought in art, is also applied in the other structures of Jukhtak Monastery. From an architectural point of view, so far the monastic complex has not been properly studied, but most of its lapidary heritage was copied several decades ago, being published quite recently. These inscriptions are engraved on the northern cornice of the church and the angular cornice of its western pediment, which has fallen down.

Դիվան հայ վիմագրության, h. 9, Երևան, 2012, էջ 482, 484-486: Karapetian Samvel, The Historical Monuments of Voskepar, Yerevan, 2013, p. 34-37.

The second church, which is preserved standing, is situated hardly 4 to 5 metres south of the first one and thoroughly shares its building features. It represents a uni-nave vaulted basilica (exterior dimensions: 6.35 x 4.86 metres), being especially remarkable for several ornate inscribed cross-stones which were set in its western facade and along the edges of the window opening from its semi-circular apse right during its construction.

Karapetian Samvel, The Historical Monuments of Voskepar, Yerevan, 2013, p. 38.

The third church, which stands hardly 3 metres south of the previous one, is the largest structure of the monastic complex (exterior dimensions: 8.57 x 5.05 metres). Like the other two, it is uni-nave, but in contrast to them, its vault and gable roof collapsed a long time ago. Its only preserved entrance opens from its northern facade. In the same direction, the church is adjoined by a vestry of a rectangular plan (exterior dimensions: 3.27 x 1.55 metres) and an entrance opening from the west. It shares the building material and construction features of the other churches.

Karapetian Samvel, The Historical Monuments of Voskepar, Yerevan, 2013, p. 39.

The chapel of the monastic complex, which resembles a funerary monument, is situated about 20 metres south of the churches and has a comparatively isolated position. It is a small vaulted structure of a rectangular plan (exterior dimensions: 3.37 x 2.90 metres). Its western facade used to bear an ornate cross-stone of large dimensions (2.70 x 1.0 metres), but unfortunately, in the Soviet years, the Azerbaijanis threw it down and broke it in two pieces. The lower part of this khachkar is engraved with a five-line inscription which is mostly weathered at present. The remnants of its words show that it used to contain some important historical information.

Karapetian Samvel, The Historical Monuments of Voskepar, Yerevan, 2013, pp. 39-40.

Another monument of a great historical value which forms part of Jukhtak Monastery is a winged cross of 1272 (dimensions: 130 x 63 x 26 cm) which is broken and removed from its original place.

Karapetian Samvel, The Historical Monuments of Voskepar, Yerevan, 2013, p. 41.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch

A general plan

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