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The richly decorated monastic complex of Sanahin,
was an important literary and educational center in medieval
times.
It was the seat of an archbishop up into the 19th c.
Queen Khosrovanush, wife of King Ashot III Bagratuni,
founded the monastery in 966, building an Amenaprkich (All-Savior)
church beside a pre-existing 10th c. S. Astvatsatsin
church (left/N).
The Kyurikian family, a junior branch of the Ani-based
Bagratunis, ruled the Tashir-Dzoraget region from their
stronghold at Lori Berd quasi-independently from the 10th
c. till 1113, when the breakdown of their relationship with the
invading Seljuk Turks forced them to move E into Tavush.
Between the two churches is a gallery, the so-called Academy of Grigor Magistros, considered to have been the school.
You will be shown a place where the famous 18th c.
multilingual Caucasian bard Sayat Nova is supposed to have sat.
The gavit of S.
Astvatsatsin was built by Prince Vache Vachutian (a more
southerly dynast) in 1211, that of Amenaprkich in 1181 under the
sponsorship of the Kyurikian family.
The bell tower, built between 1211 and the Mongol invasion
of 1236, is thought to be the earliest in Armenia.
On the outside E wall of the Amenaprkich is a dedicatory
relief showing Princes Gurgen, first of the Kyurikians, and his
brother Smbat Bagratuni, the sons of the founder, presenting a
model of the church.
N and E of S. Astvatsatsin is the relic depository or
library, built in 1063 by Queen Hranush.
Adjacent is a S. Grigor chapel.
The cemetery beyond is full of notable graves, including a
funerary chapel of the Zakarian family and tombs of some of the
19th c Argutinsky (Arghutian) princes, their descendants.
The great Georgian/Armenian amirspasalar Zakare (d. 1212)
was buried in the main church. According to historian Kirakos
Gandzaketsi: After many feats of
bravery and triumphs accomplished by the great princes Zak'are and
Ivane, they went to the city of Marand, took it, and destroyed the
districts around it. Then they went on to Ardabil (Artawil) and
similarly took it. Many of the inhabitants together with their
prayer-callers (who are called mughri) took refuge in their prayer
houses. Zakare ordered that grass and stalks be brought. He had
oil and naphtha poured on this kindling until [the mosques] were
blazing with flames; and he burned [the Muslims] to death saying:"Here are princes and laymen in return for the Armenian
princes whom the Tachiks immo- lated in the churches of Naxchawan,
Koran-readers (kurhayk'n) in return for the priests of Baguan
who were slaughtered and whose blood was splattered on the gates
of the church--a place which is darkened to this day". And
Zakare went to his own land. On the way he became ill, for
incurable sores appeared on his limbs. As soon as one would heal,
another would flare up. He died after a few days of such torments.
All the Christians mourned. They took his body and buried it at
Sanahin, in the great church beneath the altar on the right side.
Great mourning was undertaken by the king of Georgia.
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