Khadar monastery. The monument group of churches

The religious structures of the monastery are represented by a complex of monuments, comprising a central church and its associated chapels. This architectural ensemble showcases a distinctive and original design that sets it apart from other medieval Armenian churches. The central church consists of three interconnected churches, forming a cohesive unit. At the heart of this composition is a four-pillar domed structure, which is cross-shaped on the interior and rectangular on the exterior. This central structure links two chapel churches via a rectangular tabernacle positioned on the north and south sides. These chapel churches, with vaulted halls, are dedicated to different saints: the northern one to Saint Prokopius and the southern one to Saint Minas (Jalaleants 1842, 205). They feature simple architectural designs and modest dimensions, measuring 2.2 x 3.5 meters and 2.4 x 2.5 meters, respectively. Both chapels extend from east to west and are capped by a rectangular tabernacle on their eastern ends. The chapels, having the same width as the prayer halls of the churches, are delineated by wall pillars and an arch spanning between them. This architectural concept is frequently observed in Artsakh, evident in the churches of Dadivank, Gtchavank, Yeghisha Arakyal, "Bri Yeghtsi," "Okhte Yeghtsi," Charektar, Handaberd, and numerous other monasteries (Petrosyan et al. 2009, 34). Architectural analysis of this group of monuments reveals that these smaller chapels predate the construction of the domed church. As the domed church was built, the existing chapels were integrated into its design and spatial arrangement. This approach resulted in a highly original and atypical asymmetric solution in the context of classical Armenian church architecture.

The church features a four-column dome structure, with the columns shifted to the west. As a result, the dome is positioned towards the western side of the hall, rather than centrally as is typical. The side chapels are integrated into the main church structure, with the entrance to the northern chapel located on its southern wall and the entrance to the southern chapel on its western side. Both entrances lead into the prayer hall of the later-constructed church. The eastern end of the church culminates in a semi-circular tabernacle (fig. 2) and includes a single sacristy situated on the northern side. A niche in the southern wall provides access to a hiding place above. Additionally, there are four arched niches within the tabernacle, each adorned with stalactite sculptures at their edges (Fig. 3).

Many khachkars were used as building stones in various facades of the churches, serving both as decorative elements and adding a sense of liveliness to the otherwise simple construction of the buildings (Fig. 7). This construction technique, which combines semi-polished and rough stones with khachkars, is typical of both the Artsakh and Syunik schools of architecture and is evidenced in many monuments (Petrosyan et al. 2009, 42).

The volumetric and spatial solutions of the Khadar Monastery are quite original. The church itself has an almost cube-shaped volume with a pyramidal roof, where the pediments are not distinct, and the walls all end at the same height. The side chapels do not have separate roofs but are instead covered by the continuation of the church roof's slopes. The roof was constructed with semi-cylindrical tiles, as evidenced by both the tiles on the roof and their spills (Fig. 8).

The churches of the Khadar Monastery, along with other buildings, are constructed from rough basalt stones bound with lime mortar. The burial arches, columns, and pillars are lined with hewn stones. Inside, the walls are plastered with lime mortar.