Kօօsanats St. Astvatzatzin (Holy Mother of God) Cloister

Kօօsanats St. Astvatzatzin (Holy Mother of God) Cloister 17 c․

Azerbaijan / Northern Artsakh / Khanlar / Voskanapat

Location

The convent of Koosanats Sourb Astvatzatzin is located in a gorge lying at the southern extremity of the village, on the left bank of the river Voskanapat.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 443.

Historical Introduction
1684 y․

There exist no trustworthy sources on the exact time of its foundation, but most presumably, it was built before 1684, as it is mentioned in the colophon of a manuscript created that year: “...I, Sargis’ son Pati the Khoja, ransomed the Holy Gospel from the mean enemy and donated it to Voskanapat’s Sourb Astvatzatzin Cloister of Virgins...”

Kajikian. Travelling Notes (a series of articles). In: “Ardzagank,” 1886, Nos. 20, 23, 24, p. 294.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 443-444.

17 c․

The composition and building peculiarities of the church of the convent trace it back to the 17th century. It is highly probable that it started receiving gifts, including the aforementioned Gospel, immediately after its completion.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 444.

Architectural Description

The monument represents a uni-nave, vaulted structure (exterior dimensions: 12.25 x 6.55 metres) of gable roof, its only entrance opening from the south. It is built of undressed stone and mortar, with its walls plastered both inside and outside. The sanctuary used to have some monastic rooms in its western part, “...but heavy rains reduced them to ruins so that their sites now represent heaps of pebble.”

Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 275.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 444.

Historical Introduction
1885 y․

An archive document of 1885 mentions the cloister by the name of Sourb Voskiants.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3877, p. 29.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 444.

Repairs

The church bears the traces of some repairs. The following epitaph attests that an elderly man named Harutiun carried out some overhaul there in 1821.

Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 275.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 444.

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

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

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

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Sketch

Plan

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
St. Voskyants