Tatev

Tatev (Armenian Տաթեվ, transliteration Tatev ) is a company founded in the year 895 Armenian Apostolic monastery in the Syunik Province in southern Armenia. It is one of the most important architectural monuments of the country.

Location

The Monastery of Tatev is located about 170 km air line and 250 road kilometers from Yerevan away. It can be reached on a side road that branches off from the M2 between Sisian and Goris to the south. A little-used dirt road continues south over Tandzaver to Kapan. Tatev is also the name of the located near the monastery village.

Since 16 October 2010, the monastery is connected by the cable car over the Tatev Worotan Gorge with the place Halidsor. In eleven minutes, visitors can now reach all year round the monastery. The cable car is with 5750 meters, the longest, in a section performed with a continuous suspension rope aerial tramway in the world.

Etymology

The origin of the name is uncertain Tatev occupied. According to legend, the architect of Tatev could not descend from a recently -built dome. Then he cried: " Togh astvats indz ta - tev " ( German: " May God give me wings "). According to another legend, the monastery was named after Saint Eustathius, one of the 70 students who accompanied the apostle Thaddeus to Armenia. Tatev was and still is a common first name in Armenia.

Variants of the transcription of the name are Tatev, Tat'ew, Datev or Tathev.

History

The monastery was built in the 9th century at the site of an ancient sanctuary. It was a very great intellectual center of Armenia and 1390-1453 a recognized university, as those of Sanahin and Haghpat. Many important theologians of the era have taught or learned at this university. Tatev was the political center of Syunik principality and the seat of the Archbishop of Syunik, whose summer residence was located a few kilometers east in Bgheno - Noravank monastery. In the 10th century Tatev had a population of 1,000 people and controlled a number of villages. In the 13th century it had 680 villages; some of the villages, however, fought hard to free itself from the influence Tatews.

When in 1338 the Gladzor University, which was probably located in Tanahat monastery, was forced to close, the philosopher Hovhannes Vorotnetsi ( 1315-1388/98 ) taught first at the monastery Vorotnavank before in Tatev an important educational institution founded in 1340, which existed until 1434. She was the spiritual and cultural center of Armenia; partially lived and worked there 500 monks.

How many Armenian monasteries of the Middle Ages Tatev was surrounded by a wall to ward off the invasions that time. The strategically advantageous position on a promontory, bounded by a deep river gorge with steep, rocky slopes favored the establishment of a powerful defense complex at this point. The monastery was abandoned in Soviet Armenia in the 1920s, but since the attainment of independence by the Republic of Armenia consists again of church operation.

An earthquake caused considerable destruction in 1931. The surviving parts of the monastery make it possible, however, to judge the artistic significance of the complex. A restoration was indeed started but not yet completed.

Monastery

The monastery grounds include three churches. The main monument is the Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul, Surb Poghos - Petros, built between 895 and 906 It is built in the style of the domed basilicas of the 7th century, but has further special properties. The longitudinal direction that overlooks the central nave topped by a huge cross. In contrast to the domed basilica, the church had several outbuildings, served in their West part of their corners as the pillar of the dome and the Ostpfeiler not fused with the walls of the altar apse. As a consequence, the transverse shape of the interior is not very pronounced. These characteristics give rise to regard the Church as an intermediary to the development of the domed hall in a dome with cross- wings, which later became widespread in Armenia.

The facades of the church are smooth and free of superfluous detail. On the eastern facade there are two deep triangular niches, like just topped windows and decorated with thin edges. Four of them were decorated with representations of human faces that are decorated with serpents with protruding spikes. The Armenians believed that snakes would protect their homes. The oval-shaped heads are held schematically. The only exception is to portray on the north facade, where the sculptor was obviously trying certain people. According to the Armenian historian Stepanos Orbelyan there are the sculptures of the founders of the Church: Prince Ashot, his wife Shushan, Grigor Supan ( the ruler of Gegharkunik ) and Prince Dzagik.

In the West, the Church of Saint Gregory, there was an arched gallery from the year 1285, with arched openings on the south side, and west to the Peter and Paul Church existed a three-storey bell tower from the 17th century until 1931 when he an earthquake was destroyed.

Gavazan

The stone pillar Gavazan ( " shepherd's crook " for driving the cattle) was 904 situated in the south of the monastery square. The monument dedicated to the Holy Trinity near the residences is a unique work of Armenian architecture and Armenian arts and crafts. The octagonal column of carefully hewn blocks is eight meters high and is surrounded by a cornice with a small khachkar crowned it. By shaking the earth, even by the mere touch of a hand, the column begins to falter.