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Tzitzernavank (Tsitsernavank or Dzidzernavank) Monastery (Template:Lang-hy) is an Armenian Apostolic Church monastery located in Lachin (Kashatagh) district of Azerbaijan, currently under the control of military forces of Armenia and de-facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The monastery is within 5 kilometers from the official border of the Republic of Armenia (province of Syunik).
The church was constructed in three main stages. Its earliest form appears to have been a simple rectangular basilica, without an apse. Based on the characteristics of the doorways in its south wall, this period of the building has been dated to the 5th or 6th century . However, an alternative thesis exists that dates this form to the 3rd century AD and suggests that it was a pre-Christian temple . During the second stage of construction a windowless apse was added (constructed inside the eastern end of the rectangular interior) and the upper parts of the outside walls were built. This may have happened in the 6th century. At this period, the arcades that separated the interior nave from its aisles were probably still constructed of timber. In the third period of construction, stone pillars and arches replaced them. Based on the style of the capitals, this occurred sometime between the end of the 6th century and the beginning of the 10th century .
The monastery is recognized as a native Armenian example of an “oriental” architectural type . Being a three-nave basilica, like most of those in Armenia of V-VI centuries , Tzitzernavank's central nave is only slightly taller than the lateral naves, from which it is separated by two courses of pilasters. The plan is similar to a series of Armenian basilicas like Ererouyk, Eghvard, Dvin, Ashtarak (Tziranavor), Tekor - in that it had an interior composed of three aisles or naves, the central and largest one of which was separated from the others by pillars which also helped support the roof.
The basilica of Tzitzernavank Monastery was believed to contain relics of St. George the Dragon-Slayer. In the past, the monastery belonged to the Tatev eparchy and is mentioned as a notable religious center by the 13th century historian Stepanos Orbelian and Bishop Tovma Vanandetsi (1655).
In the 19th century it served as the parish church for the adjoining peasant settlement of Zeyva, and was called St. Stephanos. Zeyva's Armenian inhabitants fled during the 1905 Armenian-Tartar war, never to return. During the Soviet period the village was renamed Gusulu and the church was preserved as an historical monument.
The church of St. George (St. Gevorg) was reconsecrated after a heavy restoration in 1999-2000, paid for by Armenian diaspora funds, and is a venue for annual festivals honoring St. George.
There are two differing opinions on the etymology of the name Tzitzernavank. Some authors state that the name originates from the word "tzitzernak" which means the bird "swallow" in Armenian, and point to once abundant swallow nests inside the ruined church of St. George. Others believe that the name derives from the word "tzitzern", which in Armenian means "little finger" - presumably a reference to the relics of St. George that were kept in the church.
Publications
- P. Cuneo, La basiliąuede Cicernavank dans le Karabagh, „Revues des Etudes Armeniennes NS”, IV: 1967, s. 203-216 (in French).
Links
- Tzitzernavank, The Armenian Studies Program, Csufresno.edu
- Dzidzernavank, Adriano Alpago Novello, ARCHITETTURA ARMENA - Catalogo della MOSTRA DI ARCHITETTURA ARMENA tenuta a Bergamo, presso il Palazzo della Ragione, 1975 - Torino
- Photoes of Tzitzernavank at RAA official site
- 1700 years of Christian Armenia / Tsitsernavank (in Russian)
- A Brief History of the Art and Architecture of Artsakh — Nagorno Karabakh, by P. Donabedian, Dr. L. Durnovo, Dr. A. Yakobson, Dr. B. Ulubabian, S. Karapetian and B. Baratov
- 3D Model of The Monastery
References
- P. Donabedian, J.M. Thierry, "Armenian Art". 1989, p509.
- M. Hasratyan, "Tsitsernavank". 1990.
- P. Donabedian, J.M. Thierry, "Armenian Art". 1989, p509.
- Thais.it - Architettura Armena
- Orthodox encyclopedia, ed. by the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Alexius II, article "Armenia"
- IN SEARCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE EREROUK BASILICA, by Dickran Kouymjian, Armenian Studies, Csufresno.edu
- S. Karapetian, "Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabagh". Yerevan, 2001.
- В Цицернаванке праздновали день Святого Георгия Победоносца, Kavkaz.Memo.Ru, 29/9/2003 (in Russian)
- Volume 21.: Tzitzernavank. Documents of Armenian Art/Documenti di Architettura Armena Series. Polytechnique and the Armenian Academy of Sciences, Milan, OEMME Edizioni; 1989
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