Huskan Nahatak Monastery :: ARTSAKH HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Huskan Nahatak Monastery 1590 y․

Azerbaijan / Northern Artsakh / Shamkhor / Dashbulagh

Location

A pilgrimage site called Huskan Nahatak (the Armenian equivalent for Huskan the Martyr) is located in the territory between the villages of Bada and Chardakhlu (“...between Yelizavetpol Vicarate and Shamshadin Diocese”), half a kilometre east of Dashbulagh, at an altitude of 1,200 metres above sea level.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3877, p. 29.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 478.

Foundation

An unknown hermit is said to repose in this sanctuary which is also known by the names of Voskan Nahatak and Voskiants Monastery: “A small, cell-shaped structure standing in the south of the chapel (St. Gevorg Church - S.K.) retains the remains of an unknown saint named Voskan Nahatak. It is a pilgrimage destination even for the Turks who call it Balajekh.”

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3437, p. 15.
“Ardzagank,” 1893, No. 44, p. 2.
Kajikian. Travelling Notes (a series of articles). In: “Ardzagank,” 1886, Nos. 20, 23, 24, p. 87.
Also see “Mshak,” 1883, No. 74, p. 1 (“The martyr’s grave, which is located in the bema, is covered with a large stone occupying almost the entire territory of that section. It does not bear any epitaph...”).
Barkhutariants, M., idem, p. 321 (“...the pilgrimage site of Voskan Nahatak also known by the name of Bulanlugh).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 478.

According to a cross-stone preserved in the monastery, this church was built in 1590 (see the present work, p. 481). Although it is engraved with an inscription dating back to a later period (probably, the second half of the 19th century), we think its author had some trustworthy archive documents at his disposal (unfortunately, they have not come down to us) to maintain that. Besides, it is also attested by the building and composition peculiarities of the church.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 478.

Historical Introduction
1883 y․

H. Manassiants, who visited the monastery of Huskan Nahatak in 1883 and became witness to its inconsolable state, regretfully writes the following, “...it consists of a small adjoining chapel and a church that has almost been reduced to a cow-house. In winters the latter serves as a cattle-pen for the nearby Turks and some pilgrims coming from remote places who use it as a night shelter for their herds. The altar is totally dilapidated, for the monastery is absolutely neglected by those who should attend to its problems.”

“Mshak,” 1883, No. 74, p. 1.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 478.

Repairs
1884 — 1885 yy․

Between 1884 and 1885, Bada inhabitant Karapet Sapariants “...restored the semi-ruined church through strenuous efforts.”

Gasparian, Hovh. Chardakhlu and Its History. In: “Nor-Dar,” 1889, No. 197, p. 178; also see Yeghishe Charents Art and Literature Museum. Sargis Kamalian Fund, copy-book No. 1, VI-11, p. 15.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 478.

Historical Introduction
1888 y․

As stated in a press publication of 1888, the guardian of the monastery “...has embarked upon the construction of new rooms and the cleaning of the neighbourhood of the church.”

“Ardzagank,” 1888, No. 7, p. 87.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 478.

Description
1890 y․

In 1890 another visitor wrote the following, “On both sides of the entrance, two rooms of magnificent windows have been built for pilgrims. A small door, seen on the left of the church door, leads into a mortuary chapel where the martyr’s remains lie in eternal repose. His grave is almost entirely covered with remnants of censer and candles. The bema has a narrow window in the west. ...The yards of several ruined dwellings are preserved in the east and north of the church, which has some old graves bare of any epitaphs in the west.”

Yeghishe Charents Art and Literature Museum. Sargis Kamalian Fund, copy-book No. 1, VI-11, pp. 15-16.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 478:

Historical Introduction
1893 y․

Exposed to continual deterioration and neglect for rather a long time, the monastic buildings appeared in a deplorable state by 1893: “...The church used to have four rooms, but only two of them are preserved, and that on the verge of collapse. ...A year ago, an elderly man served as a toller and guardian there but, unfortunately, he consigned his soul to God, leaving the sanctuary absolutely derelict.”

“Nor-Dar,” 1893, No. 133, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 478.

Armenian-Turkish Fights of 1905 to 1906
1905 y․

In November 1905, St. Gevorg was plundered and ruined by the Turks.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3764, p. 278.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 478.

Historical Introduction
1907 y․

In 1907 Prior Mesrop Ter-Stepanossiants made up a journal of the income of the monastery for the purpose of implementing some overhaul there.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 461, list 1, file 56, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 479.

1985 y․

During our visit to Huskan Nahatak in 1985, the church was on the brink of collapse, with some remnants of the monks’ cells still preserved there. Most presumably, they had first served for the Father Superior, but were later reduced to pilgrim dwellings.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 479.

Priors
1843 y․

Under Archimandrite Gabriel, mentioned in 1843, Huskan Nahatak was in a lamentable state of poverty.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 1459, p. 1.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 480.

1891 — 1923 yy․

Between 1891 and 1923, Priest Mesrop Stepanossiants served as Father Superior and guardian of the sanctuary. In 1923 he wrote, “It is exactly thirty-two years since I (Priest Mesrop Stepanossiants - S. K.) was appointed prior and supervisor of the monastery of St. Huskan the Martyr...” In 1902 some repairs were carried out in the sanctuary.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 461, list 1, file 56, p. 2; fund 56, list 6, file 775, p. 28.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 480, 481.

1924 y․

On 18 April 1924, Priest Mesrop Stepanossiants applied to Gandzak’s Spiritual Consistory with a petition to re-appoint him guardian of the monastery so that he would improve its decrepit condition. He particularly wrote that in his days of office, “...the church powers entitled me to repair the monastery, surround the entire complex and saints’ graves with a solid enclosure and build springs with the donations of pious pilgrims. All possible predicaments and obstacles proving unable to discourage me, I purged it of the Turks who had got accustomed to defiling it like many other sanctuaries for many years. I achieved all this through the support and on the strict orders of my secular authorities so that even the enemy’s grave threats and insolent words could not frighten me. Moreover, my enthusiasm only grew, helping me secure the welfare of the monastery. ...In the recent sinister years, however, with Father Grigor having assumed charge of it as a rural dean, ...the sanctuary has again been doomed to total neglect. The Turks of Irmashlu have returned to its fertile arable lands and meadows, ...hastening to accommodate themselves around this pilgrimage site, whose condition is aggravating day by day, for it is subjected to continual profanation.” Apparently, the spiritual powers met Mesrop Ter-Stepanossiants’ request, for a record dating from 19 July of the same year mentions him as Father Superior of the pilgrimage site of Huskan Nahatak.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 461, list 1, file 56, p. 2, 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 480-481.

Estates
1888 y․

The available data on the boundaries of the monastic dominions as well as their economical condition and the income they yielded trace back to the late 19th century. In 1888 “...quite a number of pilgrims visit the monastery, all the profit received being allocated to Nersissian School” of Tiflis.

Kajikian. Travelling Notes (a series of articles). In: “Ardzagank,” 1886, Nos. 20, 23, 24, p. 87.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 481.

1910 y․

In 1910 Huskan Nahatak lost a considerable part of its real estate due to neglect: “This monastery does not possess anything, except for a ruined room. It used to have some lands, but the state took possession of them, since there was absolutely nobody to attend to them...”

National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 6, file 775, p. 28.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 480.

Lapidary Inscriptions
1985 y․

The inscriptions of Huskan Nahatak Monastery were first published by Kajikian and S. Kamalian, but during our visit there in 1985, we found only one of them engraved on a cross-stone.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 481.

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

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

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

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

The entrances to the mortuary chapel and church

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Sketch

The plan of Huskan Nahatak Monastery

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Voskan Tchnavor
Voskan
Voskyanc