St. Khach Monastery was an Armenian monastery located near Unus village (Ordubad district) of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan.[1][2][3] It was located in a gorge in the upper part of Vanandchay (Trunis, Vardanadzor) valley, on the right bank of the Vanandchay river.[2][3] The church of the monastery complex was still standing in the 1980s and it was destroyed by 2000.[1]
Տրունյաց Սբ․ Խաչ Վանք | |
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Denomination | Armenian Apostolic Church |
| Established | 12th century |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Destroyed |
| Site | |
| Location | Unus, Azerbaijan |
| Country | Azerbaijan |
History
editThe monastery was founded in the 12th century. It was renovated in 1687 according to the Armenian inscription on a cross-stone (khachkar) above the church's doorway and the inscriptions on five cross-stones set in the upper part of the south facade.[3] It was renovated again in 1859.[4]
Architectural characteristics
editThe church of the monastery was still a standing monument in the 1980s, however much of the complex, including a porch, outer wall and six to seven monastic buildings, was in ruins. The monastery had a vineyard arranged to the south. It had a rectangular, vaulted structure with a nave and two aisles, an eastern apse with two vestries on either side. Armenian inscriptions were placed in the northern, western and southern facades.[2][3]
Destruction
editThe monastery has been destroyed at some point between 1997 and 2000.[1] In particular, it has been completely erased by February 15, 2000, as documented by satellite forensic investigation of the Caucasus Heritage Watch.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Khatchadourian, Lori; Smith, Adam T.; Ghulyan, Husik; Lindsay, Ian (2022). Silent Erasure: A Satellite Investigation of the Destruction of Armenian Heritage in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan. Ithaca, NY: Cornell Institute of Archaeology and Material Studies. pp. 92–95. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2022.
- ^ a b c Ayvazyan, Argam. Nakhijevani ISSH haykakan hushardzannery. Hamahavak tsutsak. Yerevan: Hayastan, 1986, p. 43-44.
- ^ a b c d Ayvazyan, Argam. The Historical Monuments of Nakhichevan. Transl. Krikor H. Maksoudian. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1990, p. 48.
- ^ Smbatian, M. Nkaragir S. Karapeti vanits' Ernjakay, 1870, p. 489.