Haghpat Monastery

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Cultural heritage monument of Armenia

title: "Haghpat Monastery" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["christian-monasteries-in-armenia", "world-heritage-sites-in-armenia", "christian-monasteries-established-in-the-10th-century", "oriental-orthodox-congregations-established-in-the-10th-century", "buildings-and-structures-in-lori-province", "tourist-attractions-in-lori-province"] description: "Cultural heritage monument of Armenia" topic_path: "society/religion" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haghpat_Monastery" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Cultural heritage monument of Armenia ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox religious building"]

FieldValue
building_nameHaghpat Monastery
native_nameՀաղպատավանք
imageHaghpat aerial 2023.3.jpg
image_size300
captionAn aerial view of the monastery
map_typeArmenia
locationHaghpat, Lori Province, Armenia
coordinates
religious_affiliationArmenian Apostolic Church
riteArmenian Apostolic Church
architectureyes
architecture_styleArmenian
groundbreaking10th century
designation1WHS
designation1_offnameMonasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin
designation1_date1996 (20th session)
designation1_typeCultural
designation1_criteriaii, iv
designation1_number777-001
designation1_free1nameUNESCO Region
designation1_free1valueWestern Asia
::

| building_name = Haghpat Monastery | native_name = Հաղպատավանք | infobox_width= | image = Haghpat aerial 2023.3.jpg | image_size = 300 | caption = An aerial view of the monastery | map_type = Armenia | map_size = | map_relief = | location = Haghpat, Lori Province, Armenia | coordinates = | religious_affiliation = Armenian Apostolic Church | rite = Armenian Apostolic Church | region= | state= | province= | territory= | consecration_year= | status= | functional_status= | heritage_designation= | leadership= | website= | architecture = yes | architect= | architecture_type= | architecture_style = Armenian | groundbreaking = 10th century | year_completed= | capacity= | length= | width= | width_nave= | height_max= | dome_quantity= | dome_height_outer= | dome_height_inner= | dome_dia_outer= | dome_dia_inner= | spire_quantity= | spire_height= | materials= | nrhp= | added= | refnum= | designated= | designation1 = WHS | designation1_offname = Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin | designation1_date = 1996 (20th session) | designation1_type = Cultural | designation1_criteria = ii, iv | designation1_number = 777-001 | designation1_free1name = UNESCO Region | designation1_free1value= Western Asia Haghpat Monastery, also known as Haghpatavank (), is a medieval Armenian monastery complex in Haghpat, Armenia, built between the 10th and 13th century.

Location

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Map_of_Haghpat.gif" caption="Road map of the Haghpat-Sanahin area"] ::

The location of Haghpat Monastery was chosen so that it overlooks the Debed River in northern Armenia's Lori region. It was built partway up a hillside on a site chosen to afford protection and concealment while inconspicuous. It is built on a fertile promontory in the Javakheti Range. The monastery is not isolated and is surrounded by many hamlets.

History and description

The monastery was founded by Queen Khosrovanuysh, wife of the Bagratid king Ashot III, probably in 976. The nearby monastery at Sanahin was built around the same time.

Construction

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/2014_Prowincja_Lorri,_Hachpat,Klasztor_Hachpat(04).jpg" caption="Gavit"] ::

Cathedral of Surb Nshan

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Haghpat_Monastery,_Armenia.jpg"] ::

The largest church in the complex, the Cathedral of Surb Nshan, was probably begun in 967–976 by Queen Khosrovanuysh, wife of Ashot III, and completed in 991 by King Smbat II. It is a typical example of tenth-century Armenian architecture, its central dome rests on the four large pillars of the lateral walls. The outside walls are dotted with triangular recesses. A fresco in the apse depicts Christ Pantocrator. Its donor, the Armenian Prince Khutulukhaga, is depicted in the south transept (a transversal nave intersecting the main nave). The sons of the church's founder, Princes Smbat and Kurike, are shown with Queen Khosravanuysh in a bas-relief on the east gable. Apart from one or two minor restorations carried out in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the church has retained its original character.

Other structures

The small domed Church of Sourb Grigor (St. Gregory) is from 1005. Two side chapels were added to the original church; the larger one built in the beginning of the 13th century and the smaller, known as "Hamazasp House", built in 1257. In 1245, a three-story tall free-standing belltower was constructed. Other 13th-century additions include the chapel of Sourb Astvatsatsin, a library and scriptorium (later converted into a storeroom), and a large refectory (which is outside monastery limits).

There are also a number of khachkars (cross-stones) of the 11th-

13th centuries standing in monastery grounds, best known among them is the "Amenaprkich" (All-Savior) khachkar which has been standing since 1273.

Crusades

In 1260, Prosh Khaghbakian, with his Armenian Zakarid suzerains Avag and Shahnshah, led a large force of Georgians and Armenians to support the much smaller force of Mongol troops of Hulegu in the Siege of Mayyafariqin, which was defended by Ayyubid ruler Al-Kamil Muhammad. The Armenian Prince Sevata of Kachen was killed in the conflict. When the city was captured after two years of siege, the Muslims were massacred, but the Christians were spared. Christian relics were collected and brought back to Armenia, many to the Haghpat Monastery, which received the hand of the Apostle St Bartholomew.

Survival throughout history

The monastery has been damaged many times. Sometime around 1130, an earthquake destroyed parts of Haghpat Monastery, and it was not restored until fifty years later. The monastery also suffered numerous attacks by armed forces in the centuries of its existence, and from another major earthquake in 1988. Nevertheless, much of the complex is still intact and stands today without substantial alterations.

File:Canon tables from the Haghbat Gospels; 1211 (Yerevan, Matendaran, MS 6288, fols. 8v–9r.jpg|Canon tables from the Haghbat Gospels, created at Horomos Monastery and given to the Haghpat Monastery soon after; 1211 (Matendaran, MS 6288, fols. 8v–9r). File:Mural representing Khutlubuga. Church of the Holy Sign. Haghpat Monastery, southern wall. Late 13th century. (color).jpg|Mural representing Khutlubuga. Church of the Holy Sign. Haghpat Monastery, southern wall. Late 13th century. File:Deesis. Church of the Holy Sign. Haghpat Monasery.Wall painting in the semi-dome. Early 13th century.jpg|Deesis. Church of the Holy Sign. Haghpat Monastery. Wall painting in the semi-dome. Early 13th century. File:Monasterio de Haghpat, Armenia, 2016-09-30, DD 28-30 HDR.jpg|Church interior, nave and altar File:Monasterio de Haghpat, Armenia, 2016-09-30, DD 06.jpg|Library and scriptorium (storage jars were later inserted into the floor) File:Hakhpat-gp-ares1-l.jpg|Plan of Haghpat

UNESCO World Heritage Listing

Described as a "masterpiece of religious architecture and a major center of learning in the Middle Ages", Haghpat Monastery, together with Sanahin Monastery, was placed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1996. The monasteries at Haghpat and Sanahin were chosen as UNESCO World Heritage Sites because: ::quote The two monastic complexes represent the highest flowering of Armenian religious architecture, whose unique style developed from a blending of elements of Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture and the traditional vernacular architecture of the Caucasian region. ::

Today the area is an increasingly popular tourist site.

Gallery

File:Haghpat aerial 2023.5.jpg|An aerial view File:-Հաղպատի վանական համալիր.jpg File:Armenia Jan 2020 12 42 40 249000.jpeg|The bell tower File:Монастырь Ахпат.09 2.jpg File:2014 Prowincja Lorri, Hachpat, Klasztor Hachpat (30).jpg File:Haghpat Surb Nshan 3.jpg File:Haghpat - Armenia (2934188507).jpg File:Հաղպատի վանք 04.jpg File:02 Հաղպատի վանք Emma YSU.jpg|Mother of God Church File:2014 Prowincja Lorri, Hachpat, Klasztor Hachpat (04).jpg|The gavit of Holy Cross Church File:13082011(103)Hakhpat.jpg|The gavit of Holy Cross Church File:Монастырь Ахпат.09 1.jpg File:2014 Prowincja Lorri, Hachpat, Klasztor Hachpat (12).jpg File:Haghpat-zvonik.jpg|Belltower, 1245 File:Gavit, Haghpat.jpg|The gavit of Holy Cross Church File:Haghpat Surb Nshan gavit 1.jpg|The gavit of Holy Cross Church File:Haghpat Hamazasp 2.jpg|Hamazasp Gavit File:Haghpat Mare de Deu 1.jpg File:Haghpat - Armenia (2934195953).jpg File:Haghpat Monastery - interior 2.jpg|Hamazasp Gavit File:Haghpat - Armenia (2935033010).jpg File:2014 Prowincja Lorri, Hachpat, Klasztor Hachpat (32).jpg|Khachkars File:2014 Prowincja Lorri, Hachpat, Klasztor Hachpat (37).jpg|Holy Redeemer Khachkar (1273), in the gallery of the library File:Haghbat f.JPG

References

References

  1. [https://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=777 UNESCO, "Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin"]
  2. Haghbat, p. 534-535, in "Armenian Art", [[Patrick Donabédian. Donabedian, Patrick]]; [[Jean-Michel Thierry. Thierry, Jean-Michel]]. New York: 1989, Harry N. Abrams, Inc. {{ISBN. 978-0810906259.
  3. [http://www.armenica.org/cgi-bin/history/en/getCollection.cgi?=ba=1====baz0000 Armenica.org, "The Architectural Complex of Haghpat Monastery"]
  4. (14 September 2018). "The Art of Armenia: An Introduction". Oxford University Press.
  5. (1970). "The Armenians". Praeger Publishers.
  6. [http://freenet.am/~davh/hakhpat.html Sourb Nshan, Sourb Astvatsatsin, Sourb Grigor]
  7. (1 January 2017). "Tamta's World: The Life and Encounters of a Medieval Noblewoman from the Middle East to Mongolia". Cambridge University Press.
  8. (30 June 2000). "The Islamic World in Ascendancy: From the Arab Conquests to the Siege of Vienna". Bloomsbury Publishing USA.
  9. Dashdondog, Bayarsaikhan. (7 December 2010). "The Mongols and the Armenians (1220–1335)". [[Brill Publishers.
  10. (1970). "The Empire of the Steppes: A History of Central Asia". New Brunswick, N.J., Rutgers University Press.
  11. (1 January 2017). "Tamta's World: The Life and Encounters of a Medieval Noblewoman from the Middle East to Mongolia". Cambridge University Press.
  12. (1 January 2017). "Tamta's World: The Life and Encounters of a Medieval Noblewoman from the Middle East to Mongolia". Cambridge University Press.
  13. (2017). "Tamta's World: The Life and Encounters of a Medieval Noblewoman from the Middle East to Mongolia". Cambridge University Press.
  14. (2021). "The Frescoes of the Haghpat Monastery in the Historical-Confessional Context of the 13th Century". Actual Problems of Theory and History of Art.
  15. (2021). "The Frescoes of the Haghpat Monastery in the Historical-Confessional Context of the 13th Century". Actual Problems of Theory and History of Art.
  16. Baudourian, Elisabeth. (1998). "The Monastery of Haghpat". The UNESCO courier.

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christian-monasteries-in-armeniaworld-heritage-sites-in-armeniachristian-monasteries-established-in-the-10th-centuryoriental-orthodox-congregations-established-in-the-10th-centurybuildings-and-structures-in-lori-provincetourist-attractions-in-lori-province