Church > The St. Astvatsatsin church of Kyuratagh

The St. Astvatsatsin church of Kyuratagh

Location

The St. Astvatsin Church is located in the village of Kyuratagh in the Republic of Artsakh's Hadrut region. The village is currently occupied by Azerbaijan.

Historical overview

There is no historical information available about the church. While describing the village, Barkhudaryan mentions the church (Barkhutaryants 1895, 72-73).

Architectural-compositional examination 

The architectural plan of St. Astvatsatsin's church is rectangular (Fig. 1). On the inside, it is a vaulted hall. The church is made of rough and polished stones (Fig. 2). The only entrance is from the south. The rich decorative ornamental patterns capture the eye (Fig. 3). The church was built in 1683, according to the inscription on the lintel (the inscription is engraved in a left-right direction from the cross in the central section of the lintel) (Fig. 4). The following inscription is engraved on the left side of the cross sculpture: "This church was built in the year 1683 during the reign of Suleiman and Catholicos Jeremiah."

Fig. 1 The general view of the church from the south-east, photo by G. Budaghyan.

Fig. 3 The southern front entrance of the church. . Photo is from the certificate of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Artsakh.

Fig. 2 The eastern facade of the church. Photo is from the certificate of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Artsakh.

Fig. 4 The constructional inscriptions on the lintel, photo by G. Budaghyan.

Suleiman, the Shah, reigned from 1666 to 1694, and Jeremiah, the Catholicos, reigned from 1676 to 1700. Hence, the date indicated on the inscription is accurate. On the right hand side of the khachkar there is an inscription saying "We, the people of Kuratakh, youth and elders, built this church. Ghasum is the head of our village. In commemoration of the year 1653 (1102). "  The Arabic date was most likely added later. "This khachkar was built in remembrance of Vardan's spouse, Ghjlin, in the year 1743," we read on the left side of the entrance (Fig. 5). On the walls of the church, there are khachkars with commemorative inscriptions. One of them dates from 1683 (Fig. 6).

Fig. 5 The inscription on the left side of the church's front entrance, photo by G. Budaghyan.

Fig. 6 The khachkar enchased on the southern wall, to the right of the entrance, photo by G. Budaghyan.

The condition before, during, and after the war

There has been no information on the church since the 2020 war and Azerbaijan's occupation of the region.

Bibliography

  1. Barkhutaryants 1895 - Barkhutaryants M., Artsakh, Baku.
The St. Astvatsatsin church of Kyuratagh
The St. Astvatsatsin church of Kyuratagh
The St. Astvatsatsin church of Kyuratagh
Artsakh