Saint Karapet Monastery

Church of Surb Karabet 1893 by southwest

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The St. Karabet Monastery (Armenian Սուրբ Յովհաննէս Կարապետ Վանք Surb Hovhannes Karapet Vank, Monastery of St. John the Baptist, Turkish Canli kilise; well Monastery of Glak or Glakavank ) was founded in the 4th century Armenian monastery complex in the large Armenian province of Taron, about 35 kilometers northwest of Muş, today in the village Çengeli in eastern Turkey.

Founded by Saint Gregory the Illuminator, it was one of the oldest monasteries in Armenia. The monastery was a stronghold of the Prince Taroner house Mamikonian. Its members were regarded as holy warriors of Saint Yovhannes Karapet (John the Baptist ), their patron saint.

The Santa Karabet Monastery was one of the three most important Armenian pilgrimage sites, as well as one of the richest and oldest institutions in the Ottoman Empire until 1915, when it was destroyed by the genocide of the Armenians.

• 3.1 burials

The location and name

The monastery was located on the northern Grenzzug the plateau of Muş, at an altitude of 6400 feet above sea level or above the 2200 level Muş.

Surb (Armenian Սուրբ ) means Holy and Karabet (Armenian Կարապետ ) is a harbinger of what is John the Baptist in the Western Armenian language.

History

Foundation

According to legend, the monastery was founded by Gregory the Illuminator, who came to Taron and spread Christianity in the area, shortly after he king Trdat III. had converted. At that time, according to Zenon Klag, a contemporary of Gregory, have been found at the site of two temples of Hindu colony, which was under the protection of the Armenian kings. Accordingly, the Hindus worshiped two large brass statues that were known under the name of Demeter and Kisane. The Hindu warriors and their Armenian allies were defeated in two successive battles of Gregory's army and leveled their sanctuaries. In their place, Gregory the Illuminator, built a Christian church.

Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages the monastery of Surb Karabet was an agricultural center in the region. It could produce an extensive monastic complex and was one of the educational centers in Western Armenia.

Modern period

In the second half of the 19th century, when the Armenians saw increasing discrimination exposed by the Ottoman Empire, the monastery published the newspaper " Eagle of Taron " of Chrimian Hairik, the future Catholicos of All Armenians.

In the book " The Call of Plowmen " Chatschik Daschtenz describes a winter scene in Surb - Karabet Monastery.

On November 29, 1893 HFB Lynch visited the monastery and later wrote a report with photographs in his book Armenia: Travels and Studies, which was published in 1901.

The monastery, besides Armenians also Zazas worshiped, was known for the cure of the mentally ill.

Current Status

Get are a few ruins, stone carvings and Chatschkars which have since been used by today Muslim residents, most of them Kurds, as a building material, and are often built into the walls of local homes and structures.

Building complex

Surrounded by thick walls monastery resembled a fortress. On the eastern side of the main cathedral there were two chapels with polygonal towers and conical roofs, probably older than the main church. The youngest member was the gate to the church tower, one reason for the Turkish name of the monastery - " Canli " ( meaning " with a steeple " ) ..

Next to the church of St. Karabet the monastery also included the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, the Chapel of St. George, the chapel of St. Stepanos and the Church of St. Astvatsatsin. This system, which is considered magnificent example of Armenian architecture, was destroyed during the last century.

The Martyrdom was probably first a hall -like building with a Cupola archaic style, which was later rebuilt.

Burials

At the wars of aggression that led the Sassanid against the Mamikoniden ( Prinzenhaus Tarons ), remember the grave stones Musheghs, Vahan the Wolf and Sembats. Near the southern walls are the remains of Vahan Kamsarakan buried.

Gallery

• Historical Photos

The two chapels ( by H. B. F. Lynch, 1893)

Monastery of St. Karabet from the South (1893 )

View of the southern Muş level of the terrace (1893 )

Stronghold of Surb - Karabet Monastery

Surb Karabet