Mashtots Hayrapet Church of Garni : Ask Biography

Mashtots Hayrapet Church, September 2009.

Religious building

Location

Garni, Kotayk Province, Armenia

Affiliation

Armenian Apostolic Church

Architectural description

Architectural type

Small cruciform central-plan

Architectural style

Armenian

Year completed

12th century

Specifications

Dome

Home | Religious Building | Mashtots Hayrapet Church of Garni

Mashtots Hayrapet ( ; also Pok'r meaning "Little") is a church located within the village of Garni in the Kotayk Province of Armenia. It was built in the 12th century at the site of what was a pagan shrine. A stone carved from red tufa is situated at the right of the entrance upon a low rock wall. It has on it the design of a bird perched on a floral stem with the rosette of eternity under its tail. The rosette is also a distinctive pagan symbol representing the sun or the moon, symbolizing the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. It is said that because of this pagan symbology, this stone has a connection to the prior shrine.

The church has a small cruciform type central-plan with a single drum and dome. It is constructed from dark grey stone, with red tufa inlaid around the windows, roof, and dome. Elaborate decorations of geometric and foliage patterns may be seen all around the windows, portal, dome, and other parts of the façade. The apron around the apse in the interior of the church also is intricately carved. A number of khachkars are scattered around the church grounds, including one in particular adjacent to the building that is reminiscent of a small shrine.

In the village is also the fortress complex of Garni with the 1st century AD Garni Temple, Surb Astvatsatsin Church, a ruined 4th century single-aisle church, a ruined Tukh Manuk Shrine, Saint Sargis Shrine, and a Queen Katranide Shrine. Across the Garni Gorge is the Havuts Tar Monastery and Aghjots Vank located in the Khosrov Reserve.

Republic of Armenia		Akhtala * Arakelots * Areni * Avan * Artavazik * Aruchavank * Bardzrakash * Bgheno-Noravank * Byurakan * Deghdznuti * Etchmiadzin Cathedral * Gayane * Geghard * Gharghavank * Gladzor * Gndevank * Goshavank * Haghartsin * Haghpat * Harichavank * Havuts Tar * Hayravank * Hnevank * Horomayri * Hovhannavank * Hripsime * Irind * Karbi * Karmravor * Kasagh * Katoghike * Kecharis * Khoranashat * Khor Virap * Khorakert * Khuchapi * Kirants * Kobayr * Kotavank * Kristapori Vank * Lmbatavank * Makaravank * Makenyats Vank * Makravank * Saint Mariane of Ashtarak * Marmashen * Mashtots Hayrapet * Mastara * Mughni * Nor Varagavank * Noraduz cemetery * Noravank * Oshakan * Odzun * Pemzashen * Ptghavank * Surb Poghos-Petros * Saghmosavank * Samsoni * Sanahin * Saint Sargis of Ashtarak * Sevanavank * Shoghakat * Spitakavor of Ashtarak * Talin * Tanahat * Tatev * Tatevi Anapat * Tegher * Tegh * Tsakhats Kar * Tsaghkevank * Tsiranavor of Ashtarak * Tsovinar * Ushi * Vahanavank * Vahramashen * Vanevan * Voskevaz * Yeghvard * Yererouk * Zoravor * Zvartnots
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh)		Amaras * Dadivank * Gandzasar * Gtichavank * Tsitsernavank * Yeghishe Arakyal * Yerits Mankants
Azerbaijan		Saint Elishe * Saint Sargis Monastery of Gag * Targmanchats * Nakhichevan: Julfa cemetery
Turkey		Aghtamar * Aprank * Arter * Cathedral of Arapgir * Bagnair Monastery * Banak * Gagikashen * Holy Apostles Church of Kars * Holy Apostles Monastery * Holy Mother of God Cathedral of Ani * Horomos * Karmravank * Khtzkonk * Ktuts * Kümbet Kilise * Lim * Monastery of the All-Saviour (Trebizond) * Mren * Narekavank * Oshki * Saint Bartholomew Monastery * Saint Hovannou Monastery * Saint Karapet Monastery * Saint Krikor Monastery * Saint Mary's Monastery of Karmravor * Soradir * St. Marineh Church, Mush * Tekor Basilica * Varagavank * Varzahan Monastery
Iran		Dzor Dzor * Holy Mother of God * Saint Stepanos * Saint ThaddeusNew Julfa: Church of Bethlehem * Holy Mother of God * Saint Catherine * Saint Gregory * Saint Minas * Saint Nicholas * Saint Sarkis * Saint Stepanos * Vank Cathedral
Israel		Cathedral of St. James * Church of the Archangels * St. Toros Church * Chapel of Saint Helena * Saint Nicholas Monastery
Georgia (country)		Holy Mother of God (Mens) * Norashen * Bethlehem St. Astvatsatsin * Armenian Cathedral of Tbilisi * Vera St. Cross * Krtsanis Tsiranavor Surb Astvatsatsin (Geghardavank) * Jigrasheni Avetyats church * Dzorabash St. Gevorg * Zrkinyants St. Gevorg * Kamoyants St. Gevorg * Kuky St. Astvatsatin * Mughni St. Gevorg * Navtlukh St. Gevorg * St. Gevorg * St. Grigor Lusavorich * St. Karapet * St. Minas * Tandoyants St. Astvatsatsin * Hreshtakapetats * Chugureti St. Astvatsatsin
Other countries		Ukraine: Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary * Surb Khach Monastery

Mashtots Hayrapet Church of Garni

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Historical Armenian monasteries and churches