Haghpat and Sanahin
The Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin represent a fusion of vernacular and Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture.
Both monasteries are located in the Debed Canyon, in the Lori-region of North Armenia. Their oldest structures date back to the 10th century. Haghpat also has a number of splendid khachkars (cross-stones) of the 11th-13th centuries standing on the territory of the monastery.
In 1996, only Haghpat was inscribed. The site was extended to Haghpat and Sanahin in 2000 after the ownership of the latter monastery became clear.
Map of Haghpat and Sanahin
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Sophie
The Byzantine monastery of Haghpat was an important centre of learning in medieval times and is an excellent example of Armenian religious architecture. Haghpat and Sanahin together form one of Armenia’s three UNESCO World Heritage sites. Like Haghpat, Sanahin was a place of study, particularly famous for illumination and calligraphy.
Though what intrigues me even more are grave stones. In Armenia, there’s frequently a photo of the deceased on the grave stone. Not that unusual in itself – but it’s also not uncommon to illustrate how they died. I stand for a long time in front of a stone, engraved with the image of a man and three women, one of them a young teenager at most. Next to the happy group is a car driving off a cliff. Evocative. And sad. Also, I’m reminded of the narrow roads back down the mountain, and shiver.
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Els Slots
These are two of the many monasteries / churches in the Debed Valley that I saw on a day trip from Vanadzor. I had rented a taxi to take me there and was transported like a royal (in the backseat of an authentic Volga). After an hour or so, our first stop was Sanahin. This monastery is situated on a hilltop in the outskirts of Alaverdi. Amidst the apartment buildings, it wasn't easy to find. Up and close however it's a fine sight in a tranquil environment. The friendly lady with the key showed us around, explaining every detail to the driver (me not understanding a word because of a huge Armenian-Dutch language barrier, both sides were used to a different lingua franca (Russian-English)). Like so many other Armenian churches, this one is also blackened inside from fires.
Haghpat monastery is on the other side of Alaverdi. It's more of a landmark than Sanahin, but I wouldn't want to choose between them. Its church holds a faded fresco of Christ above the altar. Both Haghpat and Sanahin are large complexes, that host facilities like a library, a dinner hall e.a. Khatchkars can also be found, not all in very good condition. The Haghpat complex is partly overgrown by grass and flowers, a treat to the eye in springtime.
On our way back the driver Valera invited me into his home in Alaverdi and meet his family. They were a bit surprised of course, to find a turista on their doorstep. I was fed cookies and ice cream and took a picture of the whole beaming family in return. To see how this family lives, in a crumbling Soviet-apartment block close to the huge Alaverdi mine, really was an eye-opener. Their living conditions to an outsider look saddening, but inside the four walls of the family apartment all seemed pleasant enough. Because of the hospitality I experienced here, this one has become a truly memorable visited WHS.
Solivagant
These 2 monasteries are linked together in the same WHS both because of their geographic proximity and their commonality of architectural design. We had both monasteries completely to ourselves. Our trip was taking us to Georgia and a visit to this WHS fits in well with the route from Yerevan to the Georgian frontier
Sanahin sits high above the industrial town of Alaverdi, a “Soviet” city built in a deep valley on 2 levels joined by a road and cable car. When we were there in August 2000 the city appeared to be suffering from the total run down of its industrial base and gave off a depressing air with its badly built Soviet apartments showing huge cracks in their walls perhaps dating back to the earthquake of 1988! It is set deep in the mountains towards the Georgian border and one wondered what economic logic there could be under a capitalist system for an industrial centre there. In the churchyard modern graves showed that the church was in use and, in a style we had come to recognise in Russia, were marked by finely etched pictures on stone depicting the deceased and often their circumstances of death. One I remember showed graphically the death of a whole family as their car careered off a mountain road!
Hagphat is a few miles further on in more rural surroundings and is perhaps the more pleasing of the 2. Both are quintessentially “Armenian” – with an atmosphere very different from Catholic or Orthodox monasteries and which needs to be experienced to be understood. The “Khatchkars” are a particularly noteworthy feature – uniquely Armenian carved crosses which act as gravestones or memorials and which crowd upon each other on walls and in the churchyard. Neither site, however, approaches the scenic grandeur of the Sevan Monastery which is beautifully situated on a lakeside and often figures in tourist brochures and posters for Armenia. But for some reason that is not a WHS!
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- : Milan Jirasek Roman Raab Marty WalGra Walter Fmaiolo@yahoo.com
- : Christoph RobRos Kevin McFarland Tony H.
- : Ljowers Sophie BH Hanming Kevin247 Dutchnick Vernon Prieto Els Slots Aljaz Alexander Barabanov Kurt Lauer
- : Luke LOU Merveil Juha Sjoeblom Szucs Tamas JLuth Philipp Leu CugelVance Mahuhe Stanislaw Warwas
- : Afshin Iranpour Martina Rúčková Ivan Rucek
- : Stanimir Solivagant
- : Zoë Sheng
- : Lukasz Palczewski
Site Info
Site History
2000 Extended
To include Sanahin monastery
1996 Inscribed
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Unesco Website
Official Website
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