St. Hovhannes Church :: ARTSAKH HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

St. Hovhannes Church 17 c․

Azerbaijan / Northern Artsakh / Khanlar / Azat

Location

St. Hovhannes Church stands on a hill in the territory of the historical village site of Suluk, hardly a kilometre south-west of present-day Azat.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 338.

Architectural Description
17 c․

Erected in the place of an older church and partly with its stones, it represents a uni-nave basilica (exterior dimensions: 16.80 x 10.40 metres) dating from the 17th century.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 338.

Historical Introduction

During our first visit to the monument in 1980, we failed to find its construction inscription which had, fortunately, been copied and published in due time.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 338.

Some archive documents also mention the church by the name of St. Hakob.

Among them can be mentioned a document of 1861 (National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3835, pp. 147-148).
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 338.

1890 y․

In 1890 a double-storey belfry was erected in front of the northern entrance of the church, the following inscription commemorating that event (neither the belfry nor the inscription has been preserved).

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 338.

Repairs
1897 y․

A 7-line inscription engraved on a finely-finished stone set in the northern facade of the sanctuary attests that its entrance was repaired in 1897:

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 339.

Priests
1908 — 1910 yy․

Karapet Ter-Sargissiants, mentioned between 1908 and 1910, served the neighbouring village of Baghshik as well.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 458, list 1, file 184, p. 7. Also see fund 53, list 1, file 817, p. 6.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 341.

1869 y․

In 1869 “Karapet Ter-Hakobian Ter-Sargissiants from Karabakh” was ordained “priest of St. Hovhannes Church of the Armenian village of Suluk to help his father, Priest Hakob, who was in rather an advanced age.”

National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 5394, p. 10.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 340.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Construction 16 — 17 cc․

St. Hovhannes (Sourb Astvatzatzin) Church:
By the grace of Almighty God, I, Melkem, built this church in my memory and [in memory of] my ancestors, Mr. Agha, Melik Etkar, Melik Aghapek, Ghamar-Sultan, his parent, Melik Paghi, Avar Khatun, his (?) spouse Savoyina and brother Pato Bey, Aghasi Bey. In the year 1...
The Armenian original published in: Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 270.
Note: The people mentioned in the inscription help trace it back to the 16th to 17th centuries.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 338.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Construction 1890 y․

In 1890 a double-storey belfry was erected in front of the northern entrance of the church, the following inscription commemorating that event (neither the belfry nor the inscription has been preserved):
I built the belfry of Sourb Astvatzatzin Church with the means of Maki Petrossian Avaliants in memory of his late son Khachatur on 10 May 1890.
The Armenian original published in: Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 269.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 338-339.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Construction 1897 y․

A 7-line inscription engraved on a finely-finished stone set in the northern facade of the sanctuary attests that its entrance was repaired in 1897:
The door of St. Hakob Church was repaired by Galust Soghomonian Khachumiants from Ablah in memory of his parents and his soul. 9.6.1897.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 339-340.

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

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Sketch

The plan of St. Hovhannes (Sourb Astvatzatzin) Church

Type Photo
Direction From the south-west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1989 y․

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

Type Photo
View `
Direction From the south
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Type Photo
Direction From the east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

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

Its entrance opening from its northern facade

Type Photo
View Interior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1989 y․

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

Its southern sacristy

Type Photo
View Interior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1989 y․

The capital of its south-eastern pillar

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

Its frame of the window opening from western facade

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

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south-east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

View Interior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Author Frederick Berlemont
Date 2007 y․

View Interior
Author Frederick Berlemont
Date 2007 y․

Author Frederick Berlemont
Date 2007 y․

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
St. Hakob	1861 y․
Sourb Astvatzatzin