Yeghipatrush Church

Yeghipatrush Church Եղիպատրուշ Եկեղեցի
275 px Yeghipatrush Church
Shown within Armenia
Basic information
Location	Yeghipatrush village, Aragatsotn Province, Armenia
Geographic coordinates
Affiliation	Armenian Apostolic Church
Architectural description
Architectural style	Armenian
Completed	Church: 10th-13th centuries; Gavit: 12th-13th centuries
Specifications
Dome(s)	1

The Surb Astvatsatsin Church (Armenian: Եղիպատրուշ Սուրբ Աստուածածին Եկեղեցի; meaning Holy Mother of God Church; also Yeghipatrush Church Armenian: Եղիպատրուշ Եկեղեցի) is a church located in the village of Yeghipatrush in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. It was constructed between the 10th-13th centuries. Nearby, is a Early-Medieval cemetery containing the ruins of a 5th-century basilica as well as a 13th-century double-khachkar shrine. Of primary interest is the 12th to 13th century roofless gavit, which is unique in Armenian architecture because of the inclusion of watchtowers at the plan's northeast and southeast corners. It has twelve columns in the interior. Design elements of the gavit's west portal were heavily influenced by Islamic architecture. It has a decorative archway mounted by a Equilateral pointed arch, surrounded by a rectangular frame containing geometric patterns (see also Neghutsi Vank and Orbelian's Caravanserai).

Architecture

The Church of S. Astvatsatsin is adjacent to the gavit and has a large cruciform central plan with a single cylindrical drum and conical dome resting above. Narrow windows with bell style arches are positioned at each of the four cardinal directions. A portal leads into the church from the west façade via the gavit.

Gallery

• Armenian Church in Yeghipatrush.JPG

  Another view of the church

• Գավիթ-.JPG

  12th- or 13th-century gavit

• Armenian Church in Yeghipatrush - crowns with crosses.JPG

  Capital in the gavit with cross carvings

• Yeghipatrush Sb Astvatsatsin Church Narthex06.JPG

  Capital with design

• Yeghipatrush Sb Astvatsatsin Church Narthex01.JPG

  West portal to the gavit

• Yeghipatrush 05.jpg

  Double-khachkar shrine in nearby cemetery

References

Bibliography

• Brady Kiesling, Rediscovering Armenia, p. 22; original archived at Archive.org, and current version online on Armeniapedia.org.