Varagavank

38.44963611111143.460825Koordinaten: 38 ° 26 ' 59 " N, 43 ° 27' 39" E

Varagavank (Armenian Վարագավանք, German monastery of Varag ), also known as Yedi Kilise ( Turkish for " Seven Churches " ), was a famous Armenian Apostolic monastery from the 11th century, in the wake of the genocide of the Armenians in 1915 by the Turkish army was destroyed. Its ruins are located on the slopes of Mount Varag ( Erek Dagi ), 9 km east of the city of Van in Turkey.

Founded in the early 11th century on a pre-existing religious site, it was the richest and most famous monastery in the Armenian Kingdom Vaspurakan, and in the later years the seat of the Archbishop of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Van. On April 30, 1915, the Ottoman army destroyed the monastery during the Resistance of Van. Its ruins are still visible in the Kurdish- populated village Bakraçlı, which was built on the site.

History

The monastery was founded by King of Varag Senekerim - Hovhannes of the Artsruni Dynasty in the early years of his reign ( 1003-24 ) to house a relic of the Real Cross, which is kept in the same place in a hermitage dating from the 7th century been. The internal shape of the central church remembers back to the St. Hripsime Church at Echmiadzin.

A now destroyed inscription on a church in the south of the main complex, stating that the site was already developed by Senekerims wife, Queen Khoshush, in the 980s. It was also the site of the Necropolis of Artsrunikönige. Over the years Varagavank became the richest and most famous monastery of Lake Van - area. The Armenian archbishops of Van resided here until the late 19th century. One of them, who later became Catholicos Khrimian Hayrik founded Artsiv Vaspurakani ( "The Eagle of Vaspurakan " ), the first newspaper was printed in Western Armenia.

To those buried in the necropolis of the house Artsruni at Varagavank include King Senekerim - Hovhannes, in Sebasteia and Sebastia (now Sivas ) died in 1024, and Queen Khoshush, the widowed wife of King Senekerim - Hovhaness, with whom she was buried.

Architecture

The Mother of God Church in the basic shape of a Tetrakonchos was probably the beginning of the 11th century and was fundamentally renewed after an earthquake in 1648, simultaneously with the newly built Gawit St. George on its west side. South of the main church was the Church of Saint John, and even further in the south of the church of St. Sophia ( Surb Sopia ), both probably from the late 10th century. Other additions and minor churches were followed from the 17th to the 19th centuries.

Gallery

Historical Recordings 1900

Current situation

Gawit

Portal of the main church ( in Gawit )

Main church

Detached apse