Matznaberd Monastery :: ARTSAKH HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Matznaberd Monastery

Azerbaijan / Northern Artsakh / Dashkesan / Hartshangist

Location

Matznaberd Monastery, one of Gardmank’s most famous medieval sanctuaries called after the adjacent fort, is situated at the top of a mountain rising high in the area, 2.2 kilometres south-east of Hartshangist, at an altitude of 1,648 metres above sea level.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 163.

Historical Introduction
1891 y․

It comprises a church known by the names of St. Vardanants Zoravarats (‘Of St. Vardan the War-Lord’) and St. Sargis (mentioned in an inscription commemorating the repairs of 1891).

“Nor-Dar,” 1892, No. 126, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 163.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Repairs 1630 y․

Carved on the tympanum (125 x 58 centimetres) representing an ink-coloured sandstone:
By the will of God, I, Melik I... repaired this holy monastery in memory of my spouse Hurkhan, my sons Isakhan, Aghajan, Amirjan, my parents, Priest Aristakes and my mother mister Gughin in the days of Shahsef and Gandzak Catholicos Grigor, in the 1630s.
The Armenian original published in: “Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 21, p. 307.
Note: Aghvank Catholicos Grigor held Patriarchal throne in Gandzak between 1634 and 1653. Evidently, the inscription suffered still greater damage during the renovation of 1891: its initial line and some marginal letters are buried under the stones of the entrance arch of the church. Despite that, however, we succeeded in deciphering it further in 1986.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 164.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Repairs 1891 y․

8 lines in the Armenian original incised into a rectangular piece of marble:
This ancient pilgrimage site of St. Sargis also known as Meleznaberd was thoroughly repaired by Soghomon Harutiunian Nalchagariants from Gandzak in memory of his wife Balakhanum, his son Levon and all his dead relatives. 1891.
The Armenian original published in: Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 293.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 164.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 1986 y․

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

Type Photo
View Interior
Direction From the west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1986 y․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south-west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Date 1986 y․

Type Photo
View General
Direction From the south-east
Author Rafayel Abgarian
Date 1982 y․

Type Photo
View Interior
Direction From the east
Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 1986 y․

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Meleznaberd