St. John Church :: ARTSAKH HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

St. John Church 1869 y․

Azerbaijan / Northern Artsakh / Dashkesan / Hartshangist

Historical Introduction

Before the construction of its present-day church (it stood intact in the days of the deportation of 1989), Hartshangist had another dedicated to St. Hakob (mentioned in the archive documents of 1849, 1852 and 1861).
In 1869 a new church was built in the site of St. Hakob and consecrated after St. Hovhannes: “…St. Hovhannes Church, which rests on four pillars, has a gavit and a belfry in the south.”

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3818, pp. 96-97. Also see file 3819, p. 106; file 3835, pp. 148-149.
Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 292.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.

19 c․

In the 19th century, the sanctuary retained a parchment manuscript (Tarson City, Cilicia, 1221) thanks to which it enjoyed great fame.

"Ardzagank," 1886, No. 20, pp. 295-296.
Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, pp. 292-293.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 159.

St. Hovhannes functioned until 1928, its building being used as a storehouse in the Soviet years.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 409, list 1, file 2658, p. 12.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 160.

Architectural Description

The church built of ashlar and mortar represents a three-nave basilica of rectangular plan (exterior dimensions: 17.70 x 11.75 metres). In the east, it has a semi-circular bema adjoined by rectangular vestries. The vault of the prayer hall, resting on two pairs of pillars and pilasters, lies below a gable roof. The entrance of the church opens into the first floor of a double-story belfry adjoining its southern facade.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 160-161.

Priests
1849 y․

For about 20 years beginning with 1849, Hartshangist did not have its own priest. It was only in 1869 that Ghazar Ter-Mkhitariants was ordained to serve the local population.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 5394, p. 10. Also see file 4254, p. 142.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 161.

1898 y․

Vardan Voskanian Yeremiants was ordained in 1898. He had six children: Mariam, born in 1882; Astvatzatur, born in 1883; Arsen, born in 1885; Herik, born in 1889; Arshak, born in 1895, and Khachatur, born in 1898.

National Archives of Armenia, fund ä461, list 1, file 12, pp. 70-71.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 161.

1932 y․

The elderly people of the village remember that the last person to be baptized by Usepants (from Hovsep’s family) priest was a certain Gagik Makich Vanian, that event taking place in 1932.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 161.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Construction 1869 y․

5 lines in the Armenian original engraved on the tympanum:
This church of St. Hovhannes was built through the means of Chovdar inhabitants in the year 1869. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
The Armenian original published in: “Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 20, p. 295. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 159-160.
Note: The first publisher of this inscription made certain additions and misread some parts, deciphering the year as ‘1863.’ The earliest record mentioning the church by the name of St. Hovhannes dates from 1862, which probably marks the year its foundations were blessed.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 159-160.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 1980 y․

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

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

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

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
St. Hakob