Church > The Church of Berdavank

The Church of Berdavank

Location

Berdavank is located in the Hadrut area, in the village of Ghuchilar (Figs. 1, 2).

Fig. 1 The Church from the North, 2016. Photo by G. Budaghyan.

Fig. 2 The interior of the church, 2016. Photo by G. Budaghyan.

Historical overview   

Ghuchilar village is located on the southern slope of a mountain with a fortress, about 6-7 kilometers south-east of Velijan Ishkhan or Tsoraberd, to the east. M. Barkhudaryan claims that "The village's residents migrated from Gharadagh. The church of Berdavank is plastered with lime mortar, and the priest is from Norashen."  (Barkhutaryants 1895, 43).

The village, which was entirely populated by Armenians, was gradually emptied of Armenians in the late 1930s, after which it became the residence of Azerbaijani cattle farmers. In August of 1993, it was liberated.

Azerbaijan has occupied the village since October 2020.

Architectural-compositional examination 

The church is a single-nave hall with a rectangular architectural plan. On the eastern side, there is a semicircular tabernacle and windows on the right and left sides, one on each side (Fig. 3). The church is vaulted, with a two-sloped roof. Two windows on the eastern and western sides provide light (Fig. 4).

Fig. 3 The interior of the church, 2016. Photo by G. Budaghyan.

Fig. 4 The Church from the East, 2016. Photo by G. Budaghyan.

The entry was most likely opened on the north side, which is currently obscured by a crumbled section of wall (Fig. 5). Traces of buildings and fencing around the church indicate that there was once a monastery here.

Fig. 5 The Church from the North, 2016. Photo by G. Budaghyan.

The condition before, during, and after the war

The church was in a tumble-down condition. There is no current information available.

Bibliography

  1. Barkhutaryants 1895 - Barkhutarenats., Artsakh, Baku.
The Church of Berdavank
The Church of Berdavank
The Church of Berdavank
Artsakh