Gag's St. Sargis Monastery :: ARTSAKH HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Gag's St. Sargis Monastery

Azerbaijan / Northern Artsakh / Ghazakh / Dash-Salahli

Location

Gag’s St. Sargis Monastery, one of the most famous sanctuaries in medieval Armenia, stands at the top of Mount Gag, hardly half a kilometre east of the frontier of the Republic of Armenia, 4 kilometres west of Dash-Salahli Village, at an altitude of 922 metres above sea level, and 420 metres above the foot of the mountain.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 301.

Historical Introduction

Tradition connects the foundation of the monument with War-Lord Sargis, who suffered martyrdom as a preacher of Christianity and was later canonized. Supposedly, Mesrop Mashtots, the creator of the Armenian alphabet, interred part of his remains in Ushi Village of Aragatzotn Marz of the Republic of Armenia, and the rest in the vicinity of Gag Castle. He also built two churches in memory of the saint: “…The history of the church ascribes its foundation to Mesrop Mashtots, who buried part of St. Sargis’ head here. The same is also attested by a church song, ‘At the top of Mount Gag stands a church blessed by St. Mesrop the Holy Pastor…’”

“Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 12, p. 161.
Some other records read, “…A miracle-working cross, towering at the summit of Gag, attracted all those suffering and held captive. People visited it with profound faith in their hearts, and Sargis the Holy Martyr himself opened the doors of all prisons, broke all iron chains, his vision showing everybody the path they were to follow. The fame of the wonder-working cross, which was said to have been erected by Mesrop the Holy Archimandrite, had permeated through the entire nation” (History of Armenia by Kirakos Gandzaketsy. Prepared for publication by Melik-Ohanjanian K. Yerevan, 1961, p. 252). “… At the top of Mount Gag, in the vicinity of a castle of the same name founded by King Gagik stands a famous church built in memory of Holy Commander Sargis by Archimandrite Mesrop, the Great Armenian Translator” (A Collection of Historiographical Works compiled by Priest Samuel Anetsy. Vagharshapat, 1893, p. 145).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 301.

The fact that Gag Monastery is closely connected with the worship of St. Sargis is also confirmed by some Georgian sources, one of which states, “…A vast multitude of pilgrims from almost all Armenian (Somkhit) cities went to Isfahan, whence they moved Sargis’ remains with high honours and brought his right hand to Gag Church built by a certain Petros.”

Melikset-Bek, L. M. Georgian Sources about Armenia and Armenians, vol. 1, Yerevan, 1934, p. 115.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 301.

1130 y․

In 1130 “…a huge army of horsemen, comprising barbarians from different tribes, flooded into the plain of Gag, where they wanted to burn the Holy Cross standing in memory of War-Lord Sargis. The Lord, however, gave vent to His wrath and they killed each other in a crazy fight…”

History by Vardan Vardapet. Venice, 1862, p. 123.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 301.

1163 y․

Yeltkuz Atabek, who invaded the field of Gag with an immense army in 1163, wanted to set alight St. Sargis Church. The saint’s might, however, saved the monument, for all the enemy forces fell victim to a poisonous snake which suddenly turned up there…”

A Collection of Historiographical Works compiled by Priest Samuel Anetsy. Vagharshapat, 1893, p. 138.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 301.

13 c․

A 13th-century record mentions Gag’s St. Sargis among the oldest and most remarkable monuments in the plain of Gag: “The Georgian territories... extend up to the Caspian Sea and the field of Gag, where St. Sargis stands…”

A Geographical Atlas by Vardan Vardapet. Paris, 1960, p. 34, in Armenian.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 301.

13 c․

Further reference is made to the sanctuary in the ‘30s of the 13th century, when Armenian historiographer Vanakan Tavushetsy the Archimandrite (1181 to 1251), a church and public figure, applied to the inhabitants of Gag Fort for his pupils’ and his salvation: “…I am going to kneel before the Holy Cross standing in commemoration of St. Sargis and beg the Lord to redeem us from the cruel enemy…”

History of Armenia by Kirakos Gandzaketsy. Prepared for publication by Melik-Ohanjanian K. Yerevan, 1961, pp. 221-252.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 301.

Lapidary Inscriptions

The inscriptions of Gag’s St. Sargis Monastery, which date from the 13th to 19th centuries, are of great historical significance. Unfortunately, however, the specialists, engaged in the copy, decipherment and publication of the region’s Armenian lapidary inscriptions, have neglected this. With this respect, S. Jalaliants and the correspondent of the “Ardzagank” constitute the only exception: the latter published 5 inscriptions, of which only one was preserved during our visit to the sanctuary in 1986. Another one had been deliberately scraped out, with only some letters still discernible in certain parts.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 301.

Repairs

Gag’s St. Sargis Monastery was a renowned pilgrimage site, believers generally visiting it at Easter and on New Sunday. As attested by some inscriptions and archive documents, Gag’s St. Sargis Monastery often underwent overhaul. For the last time, Agha Sargis Varshamian undertook renovation there, the work being completed in 1851 by mason Yesayi Nuriniants from Tiflis: “…thanks to their hard, strenuous endeavours, the church went through major overhaul which was completed in the year 1851. Having been rebuilt into a fine stone edifice with an arched ceiling and a small dome, it was also fortified by ramparts. The road leading to the monument, which was once so difficult of passage, was thoroughly repaired so that pilgrims would not face any difficulty in visiting it.” By the way, the renovation expenses totaled 2,210 rubles 23 kopecks, of which 736 had been donated by believers.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 3735, p. 1.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 301.

Further repairs were carried out in the monastery by Arzuman Khachatrian Ter-Sargissiants from Kot Village of Ghazakh District.

Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 396.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 301.

Description
1886 y․

The fact of the deliberate obliteration of the inscriptions of St. Sargis Monastery was established in 1886, a record stating the following with this connection, “There are some other inscriptions carved near and on the right of the aforementioned one. However, it is next to impossible to read them either due to their old age or distortion by the enemy…”

“Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 12, p. 162.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 301.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration

Once carved on the facade of the gavit and obliterated by 1986:
Under Georgian King Giorgi…
The Armenian original published in: “Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 12, p. 162.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 301-302.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration

Engraved on the entrance facade of the larger chapel and obliterated by 1986:
This sanctuary [which stands] in perpetual memory of all our nation, should be treasured forever by the coming generations. And I initiated the repairs of this church that had been in a dilapidated state for a long time and decorated it, building it through my faithfulness, without anybody’s support. All by myself, I erected a magnificent gilded cross on top of its dome in memory of my parents, children and me. ...On Saturday and Sunday divine service should be held in commemoration of my parents and me after I consign my soul to God. May those who hinder this be cursed by the Lord and share Judas’ fate. Amen.
The Armenian original published in: Jalaliants, S. Journey to Greater Armenia, part 1. Tpghis, 1842, p. 158; “Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 12, pp. 161-162.
Misreading: Jalaliants’ decipherment of the end of the inscription reads as follows, “…May those who hinder this and remove the cross be cursed by the Lord and share Judas’ fate.”
Note: Presumably, the inscription dates from the 13th to 14th centuries.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 302.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration 1332 y․

Carved on the left of the entrance of the smaller chapel and obliterated by 1986:
In the year 1332, I, Jvansher, built the bema and erected a cross in memory of..., may those who ruin it atone for my own sins and stand before the Divine Judgement.
The Armenian original published in: “Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 12, p. 162.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 302.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration 1338 y․

Incised into the north-eastern facade of the gavit and obliterated by 1986:
By the Lord’s will, Grigor, Hakob and I, Khacheres, erected this Holy Cross in memory of our parents’ and our souls. May believers remember us in their prayers. In the year 1338.
The Armenian original published in: “Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 12, p. 162.
Note: This publication of the inscription contains some minor errors.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 302-303.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 y․

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration

Only two lines of a large Armenian inscription are preserved on a fragment fixed in one of the church walls:
...this cross... my parents ...me. May believers...
Note: Most of the first line has been deliberately scraped away.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 303.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration 1838 y․

7 lines in the Armenian original (part of the last one in Georgian) carved on the entrance tympanum of the church:
This church of St. Sargis was built from its very foundations through the efforts and means of Arzuman Khachaturian Ter-Sahakiants from Kot Village of Ghazakh District in memory of his parents and sons, 1838 ...
The Armenian original published in: “Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 12, p. 161.
Note: This publication of the inscription contains only its initial 5 lines. By 1986 most of the inscription had been deliberately scraped off, with only some parts discernible.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 303.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative

An inscription commemorating its renovation of 1838; the same inscription already deliberately scraped away as of 1985

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Commemoration 1208 y․

Preserved in a cave in one of the crevices of Mount Gag:
...under… in the year 1208 of the Armenian era...
The Armenian original published in: “Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 12, p. 162.
Note: “This huge mountain has numerous caves once forming part of a large castle which used to provide shelter for troops, or vast multitudes. Inside the two of them, the rocks are engraved with inscriptions which we were unable to read due to their old age. Besides, some bigoted Turkish stock-breeders generally spending winters there had damaged them out of spite. The only surviving part is the first line, which reads...” (“Ardzagank,” ibid).

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 303.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author D. Akhundov
Source Sketch

The plan of St. Sargis Monastery (measurement D. Akhundov)

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative