AGENCY FOR CONSERVATION
OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL MONUMENTS
KARMRAVOR CHURCH
(7TH CENTURY A.D.)
THIS SEVENTH–CENTURY DELICATE, DOMED CHURCH CALLED KARMRAVOR (“OF REDDISH HUE”) AT ASHTARAK STANDS WITHIN THE WALLS OF AN OLD CEMETERY NEAR YEREVAN. ARMENIA’S CENTURIES-OLD TRADITION OF RECORDING HER HISTORY TAKES MANY FORMS, INCLUDING THE CARVING OF INSCRIPTIONS ON THE WALLS OF CHURCHES. SUCH DEDICATORY INSCRIPTIONS ARE INVALUABLE TO MODERN–DAY HISTORIANS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO PIECE TOGETHER THE HISTORY OF ARMENIA SINCE THEY RECORD THE NAME OF THE PATRON, AND SOMETIMES GIVE THE NAME OF THE ARCHITECT AND THE DATA AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CHURCH’S FOUNDING. IN THE CASE OF KARMRAVOR, THE SINGLE-LINE DEDICATORY INSCRIPTION ENCIRCLES THE CHURCH LIKE A PROTECTIVE RING, BEGINNING ON THE SOUTH WALL AND CONTINUING AROUND THE CHURCH UNTIL IT ENDS ON THE NORTH WALL. THOUGH UNDATED, IT GIVES US THE NAMES OF ITS PATRONS, THE PRIESTS GREGORY AND MANAS. THE CHURCH IS DATED AS SEVENTH CENTURY ON THE BASIS OF ITS ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS.
KARMRAVOR IS THE ONLY SEVENTH CENTURY CHURCH WHICH STILL PRESERVES ITS ORIGINAL ROOF OF RED CLAY TILES. IT IS BUILT IN THE EXTERIOR SHAPE OF A FREE-STANDING CROSS. ITS EASTERN APSE IS HORSESHOE-SHAPED ON THE INTERIOR AND RECTANGULAR ON THE EXTERIOR WHILE THE OTHER THREE ARMS OF THE CHURCH ARE RECTANGULAR ON BOTH THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR. WITHIN THIS TYPE, THERE ARE SEVERAL VARIATIONS, INCLUDING CHURCHES WITH THREE OR EVEN FOUR SEMICIRCULAR APSES ON THE INTERIOR INSTEAD OF JUST ONE.
(WITH THE GENEROSITY AND ASSISTANCE OF THE ARMENIAN LIBRARY AND MUSEUM OF AMERICA, IN WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS.)
