Khtzkonk Monastery

40.38055643.376389Koordinaten: 40 ° 22 ' 50 "N, 43 ° 22' 35" E

The Chtsgonk Monastery (Armenian Խծկոնք վանք, Turkish Beşkilise Manastırı, "five churches Monastery " ) is a purpose-built from the 10th century Armenian monastery complex of five churches that were built until the 13th century in what was then Bagratidenkönigreich of Ani. After Turkey, 1920, the western region of Armenia captured along with the city of Kars, the monastery complex was destroyed in the 1950s. Today the site is located near the city Digor, about 19 km west of the border with Armenia. The monastery is located in the valley of the river Digor.

The monastery, with its five churches was still intact when it was photographed by the Armenian archaeologists Ashkharbek Kalantar in August 1920. After the expulsion of the remaining Armenian population of the area Kars, the government declared the monastery and its surrounding area a closed military zone and practice area. In 1959, the French art historian Jean -Michel Thierry visited the site and found that four of the five churches were destroyed. Only the 1029 dated and probably coinciding with the round church of Surb Sargis Marmashen built round church (St. Sergius ) was obtained in badly damaged condition. The churches were blown up by statements from residents Digors by the Turkish army. Your information has been confirmed by visible blowing tracks. The dome of the church is preserved intact, but the side walls were blown up. The destroyed churches were leveled. The historian William Dalrymple confirmed that the damage may be not caused by an earthquake.