Church > The Monuments of Shikaqar Qaraglukh: St. Astvatsatsin Church of Qaraglukh

The Monuments of Shikaqar Qaraglukh: St. Astvatsatsin Church of Qaraglukh

The church is located in the Askeran region, near Parukh village (Figs. 1, 2). It has a 19th-century architectural construction, but tombstones and khachkars from older periods used in the lining of the walls prove that the current church was built on the foundations of the old church here.

Fig. 1 Karaglukh village and church from the south-east, 2011; photo by H. Petrosyan.

Fig. 2 The Church from the South, 2021; photo by G. Budaghyan.

According to Barkhudaryan, the church had a wooden roof. There is currently no roof. The church is built using local rough light-brown stones and lime mortar.It is 14.5 meters in length and 6.6 meters in width. The church is a rectangle-shaped single-nave hall. It has a semicircular tabernacle in the east and two sacristies.

The St. Astvatsin church has three small windows that open to the south-east. The only entrance is from the south (Fig. 3).

The sculptures, interesting khachkars, and tombstones with inscriptions are preserved on the church territory and walls (Figs. 4, 5).

Fig. 3 The entrance of the church, 2021; photo by G. Budaghyan.

On the khachkar placed in front of the entrance it is written. "In memory of brother Piruzpa[kht], I, Chahan, raised this cross." (CAE 5, 141, fig. 6).

On the south wall, to the left of the entrance, there is an inscription enchased on the khachkar that says, "I, Smbat, raised this cross for my beloved wife and Heghan. The cross of salvation can be found to the left of the entrance. " (CAE 5, 141, fig. 7)

Inside the building, tombstones and khachkars attached to the south wall have also been preserved (Figs. 8, 9).

Fig. 4 A gravestone in the territory of the church, 2021; photo by G. Budaghyan.

Fig. 5 The khachkar on the southern wall, 2021; photo by G. Budaghyan.

Fig. 6 The khachkar with an inscription, 2021; photo by G. Budaghyan.

Fig. 7 The kachkar with an inscription on the left of the south wall entrance, 2021; photo by G. Budaghyan.

Fig. 8 The gravestone enchased on the southern wall from the inside; 2021, photo by G. Budaghyan.

Fig. 9 The khachkar enchased to the south wall from the inside, 2021; photo by G.Budaghyan.

 Bibliography

  1. Barkhutaryants 1895—Barkhutaryants M., Artsakh, Baku, Aror.
  2. CAE 1982–Corpus of Armenian Epigraphy, issue 5, Artsakh, Yerevan, made by S. Barkhudaryan, Yerevan․
The Monuments of Shikaqar Qaraglukh: St. Astvatsatsin Church of Qaraglukh
St. Astvatsatsin Church of Karaglukh
St. Astvatsatsin Church of Karaglukh
Artsakh