Church :: ARTSAKH HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Church 13 — 14 cc․

NKR / Karvajar / Takyaghaya

Location

The church situated in the northern outskirts of the village Takyaghaya, at the left bank of the Lev, not far from Handaberd, stands out for its peculiarities.

S. Karapetian, Newly discovered Armenian Historical Monuments of Karvajar Region, "Hayreniqi Dzayn", 1993, NN 19-20.
Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 27.

Description

It is exceptionally compact and executed with high feeling of architectural style. This church may be rightfully called the most characteristic and peculiar sample of the Artsakh school of architecture and carving. Although the vault of the basilica has totally collapsed, its eastern facade covered with ornamented crosses was really impressive.

The detailed description of this site, alongside with the photographs and readings was first published by us in "Hayreniki Dzayn" weekly (N 19-20, 1993); a year later in "Yerkir" (N 166, 1994) archaeologist V. Gayserian stated that the church of Takyaghaya (transliterated by unknown reasons as "Tektaghaya") was discovered by him and his associates. It seems, Gayserian is in certain confusion.
Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, pp. 27-28.

Architectural Description

The church itself was built of coarse semi-processed stones connected with lime mortar. Its external dimensions were 7.46x5.58 m. The walls were thicker than usual (the width of the western wall is 117 cm). An important peculiarity was its quadrangular altar apse. The cross fastened into the tympanum is a real masterpiece. Though there are no inscriptions on the preserved walls of the church, stylistic and technical peculiarities of the crosses are characteristic of the XIII-XIV cent.

Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 28.

Historical Introduction

Dating of the structure may be done with more certainty owing to the discovery of an inscribed khachkar fragment, which exactly imitated the motifs of crosses carved on the tympanum of the church. The resemblance was so strong that one might assume that the same craftsman carved both crosses. The inscription was carved on the narrow side and between the wings of the cross.

Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, pp. 28-29.

Type Measurement
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Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Sketch

Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2018 y․

Author Sasun Danielian
Date 2018 y․