St. Gabriel Church :: ARTSAKH HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

St. Gabriel Church 1674 y․

Azerbaijan / Northern Artsakh / Khanlar / Mirzik

Historical Introduction
1674 y․

St. Gabriel Church, located in the centre of the village, was built in 1674, as attested by its construction inscription.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 422.

Repairs
1863 y․

During the repairs of 1863, the inner walls of the sanctuary were plastered, the amount necessary for the completion of the work being received from its own budget.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3843, p. 40.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 423.

Description
19 c․

Yer. Lalayan, who saw St. Gabriel in the late 19th century, describes it as a small, damp building. According to another visitor, however, it represented a magnificent monument resting on four splendid pillars.

Lalayan, Yer. Gandzak District. In: “Azgagrakan Handes,” vol. 5, Tiflis, 1899, No. 1, p. 298.
“Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 20, p. 295.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 423.

Bishop Barkhutariants provides the following brief description of the sanctuary, “...built of stone and mortar and resting on four pillars. It has an ancient khachkar... and a small belfry, its length amounting to 16 metres 95 centimetres, and its width to 12 metres 10 centimetres...”

Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 276.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 423.

Architectural Description

St. Gabriel Church represents a tri-nave vaulted basilica, with a font in the northern wall and a vestry on each side of the bema. Its only entrance, that is shaped like an arch, opens from its southern facade. The sanctuary, that is built of dressed stone and mortar, is illuminated through 6 windows widening inside. All its cornerstones are finely-cut.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 424.

Historical Introduction
1928 y․

Although the authorities of Soviet Azerbaijan closed the church in 1928.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 409, list 1, file 2658, p. 12.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 425.

It was preserved standing until the deportation of Artsakh Armenians.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 425.

Priests
1897 — 1905 yy․

Martiros Yeghiazarian Yepiskopossiants, who studied in Pib’s St. Gevorgian School between 1871 and 1879, was ordained on 21 January 1897 and served the community of St. Gabriel Church until at least 1905.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 461, list 1, file 12, p. 59.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 425.

Inscription, Armenian, Engraved, Construction

This church of St. Gabriel was built through the efforts and donations of Mirzik inhabitants in the year 1674. Repaired in 1910 with its own means.
The Armenian original published in: “Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 20, p. 295; Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 276; Lalayan, Yer. Gandzak District. In: “Azgagrakan Handes,” vol. 5, Tiflis, 1899, No. 1, p. 316.
Note: The decipherments made by these sources are incomplete.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 422.

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

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

Type Measurement
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Sketch

The plan of St. Gabriel Church

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

Khachkars and a tombstone set in the western facade of St. Gabriel Church

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