AGENCY FOR CONSERVATION
OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL MONUMENTS
MONASTERY OF SANAHIN - CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER
(966 A.D.)
QUEEN KHOSROVANUSH OF ARMENIA, WIFE OF KING ASHOT BAGRATUNI (R. 953–977), WAS ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL PATRONS OF THE MONASTERY OF SANAHIN, WHICH BECAME ONE OF THE MOST RENOWNED RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL CENTERS OF ARMENIA FROM ITS FOUNDING IN THE TENTH TO THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY. SITUATED ON A WOODED MOUNTAIN SLOPE IN THE ALAVERDI REGION, THE TOWERED WALLS OF SANAHIN PROTECTED SOME OF THE FINEST ARCHITECTURAL MONUMENTS OF MEDIEVAL ARMENIA, OF WHICH THERE REMAIN THREE CHURCHES, TWO GAVITS OR NARTHEXES (LARGE HALL–LIKE STRUCTURES ON THE WEST SIDE OF A CHURCH), A LIBRARY, PORTICO, THREE STORIED BELLTOWER, ACADEMY STRUCTURE, MAUSOLEA FOR THE ZAKARID AND KIURIKEAN FAMILIES, AND KHACHKARS (ORNATE CROSS-STONES).
THE QUEEN COMMISSIONED THE SPLENDID, DOMED CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER IN 966 A.D. (A DOMED HALL TYPE CHURCH) IN HONOR OF HER SONS SMBAT AND GURGEN, LATER KINGS OF ARMENIA AND LORI RESPECTIVELY. SHE ALSO HAD THEIR IMAGES CARVED UNDER THE EAST GABLE HOLDING A MODEL OF THE CHURCH BETWEEN THEM, JUST AS AT THE MONASTERY OF HAGHBAT ON THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SIGN WHICH SHE COMMISSIONED TEN YEARS LATER. IN 1061 AND 1063, QUEEN HRANUSH ERECTED THE ROUND CHURCH OF ST. GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR, AND THE LIBRARY WHICH HAS A UNIQUE SYSTEM OF CEILING ARCHES TO SUPPORT THE HEAVY STONE VAULTING. OTHER PATRONS AND HISTORICAL PERSONAGES INCLUDE THE ABBOT HOVHANNES, GRIGOR MAGISTROS, PRINCE VACHÉ VACHUTIAN, PRINCE AMIR KURD, AND THREE DAUGHTERS OF KING KIURIK III. EVERY CHURCH AND GAVIT AT SANAHIN HAS A DIFFERENT DESIGN AND DEMONSTRATES THE CREATIVITY OF ARMENIA'S MEDIEVAL ARCHITECTS. ZHAMHAYR, THE ARCHITECT OF THE MAIN GAVIT, IS ONE OF THE FEW KNOWN TO US.
(WITH THE GENEROSITY AND ASSISTANCE OF THE ARMENIAN LIBRARY AND MUSEUM OF AMERICA, IN WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS.)
