Vorotnavank

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Raffi Berberian Photography

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Vorotnavank

Vorotnavank, a monastic complex of 11th century, is located along a ridge overlooking the Vorotan gorge.
According to historian Stepanos Orbelian, the first church in Armenia, the Saint Grigor Lusavorich church, was founded here by the Illuminator himself in the 4th century but was replaced by Vorotnavank when the main church of Surp Stepanos was built in 1000 by Queen Shahandukht, ruler of the lands of Syunik.

Vorotnavank, a monastery of 11th century is located along a ridge overlooking the Vorotan gorge.

There was an octagonal column similar to the one in the courtyard of the Tatev monastery in the courtyard. It was a symbol of episcopal authority – indicating that monks had been ordained and princes had been crowned in this monastery. Unfortunately, the column was destroyed by an earthquake.

According to historian Stepanos Orbelian, the first church in Armenia – the Saint Grigor Lusavorich church was founded here by the Illuminator himself in the 4th century but was replaced by Vorotnavank when the main church of Surp Stepanos was built in 1000 by Queen Shahandukht, ruler of the lands of Syunik.

The drum has many carvings of crosses on in.

Carving on the side of medieval grave, could be a sort of celebration of life. You can see a horse, musical instrument, someone writing, and maybe a drinking vessel. Other similar carvings can be found in medieval cemeteries across Armenia. A real snapshot of how life might have looked!

Christian Symbols including eternity, an interesting triangle which I also saw on a trip to Romania, and another corss design.

On the left side is the the first church, Surp Stepanos, built in 1000. On the right side, the adjoining church of Surp Karapet was constructed in 1006-1007 by Queen Shahandukht's son Sevada. A circular drum and a recently reconstructed dome rest above the cruciform plan of the church.

Intricate Khachkars

The church was decorated with frescoes. One of the church fragments restored in 2011 by Belgian restorer Christine L’Amour depicts a starry blue sky with an angel in the center.

The church was decorated with frescoes. One of the church fragments restored in 2011 by Belgian restorer Christine L’Amour depicts a starry blue sky with an angel in the center.

Hovhan Vorotnetsi (1315-1398), an Armenian medieval philosopher and theologian as well as the founder of Tatev Vardapetaran University lived and worked at the monastery. It was also here that Grigor Tatevatsi, founder of the Tatev Monastery, wrote and translated Latin treatises, devoting his work to his teacher Hovhan Vorotnetsi.

The complex is surrounded by a high stone wall for defense against foreign invasions and once housed workshops, stores, a seminary, and other buildings.

On the right you can see the Vorotan river Gorge

The monastery survived the invasion of the Seljuk Turks and the Tatar-Mongols led by Tamerlane. After that, it would be renovated more than once but would be badly damaged by the 1931 earthquake. The most recent restoration works in the Vorotnavank monastery were carried out in 2013.

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