Basic Momument Information:

Originator Of Reference: Center for the Scientific Research of Monuments Country: Republic of Armenia Monument Category: Complex Functional Type: Religious Complex Monument Type: Monastery Principal Name: Nor Varagavang Monastic Complex Principal Date: 1193-1198 Byzantine Date: Middle Byzantine Person in Charge: Ms. Hasmik Azizyan Organization of Person in Charge:

Information Text:

This is an Armenian Medieval architectural monumental group, which is situated in Tavoush marz, approximately 2 km to the west from Varagavan village, on the slope of the wooded mountain. It was founded by prince of Nor Berd. David, in 1193-98. He has built the oldest church of the monastery, Anapat church, and the family crypt as well, Built of yellow smooth stones, the church is a kind of vaulted hall and belongs to one of the rare samples of Armenian I double-conch monuments, such as Xlllth century St. Harutyun church of Sanahin and St. Sion church of Herher. The front entrance, with ornamented cross-stones on both sides of it, attracts attention. To the northern part of Anapat church adjoins the crypt covered with timber, to the southern part - single-aisle chapel both of them to be two-storied. To the western part of the church adjoins gavit, which covering and western wall aren't kept, At the northern side of the church stands St. Aslvaisatsin church, which was built by prince David's son Vasak II in 1224-37. Inside of it there are two-storied cells in the four corners, outside of it there is the dome with right-angled, high drum. The conch of the alter is lighted by two windows. The entrances are situated on both south and west. The stones of the latter are ornamented with dark lilac and blue unique zodiac and vegetable mosaics, having star-shaped, rhombus and hexagonal edges. In 1237-61 the monastery abbot, Hovhannes Tayetsi, at the western side of the church built the large rectangle gavit. which covering is completely ruined. 200 m to the north from the complex wall the community cemetery with little chapel is situated. The monastery had the water-supply (according to the report, it was built by Sharan in 1253). At first being the cloister, in Xlll century Anapat was renamed to Nor Varagavanq, when abbot Ghukas of Varag monastery in Vaspurakan, being persecuted by barbarians of Djalaleddin, taking the "saint symbol" of the monastery, in 1237 moved to the spiritual center of Kyurikyans' princedom - Nor Berd.

Picture of the Monastery:

West view of "Nor Varagavank"

Cross Reference to related Monument:

Basic Momument Information:

Originator Of Reference: Center for the Scientific Research of Monuments Country: Republic of Armenia Monument Category: Building Functional Type: Religious Building Monument Type: Christian Church Monument Sub-type: Monastery Church Principal Name: St. Nshan (Anapat) Church Principal Date: 1193-1198 Byzantine Date: Middle Byzantine Person in Charge: Ms. Hasmik Azizyan Organization of Person in Charge:

Information Text:

The church is the oldest building of the complex (1193-1198). Built of yellow smooth stones, the church is a kind of double-conch vaulted hall and belongs to one of the rare samples of Medieval Armenian architecture. There are only 115 monuments of such kind in the world, the majority of which are situated in Greece, some of them - in Corsica, in the Central Alps, Kapadovkia and only some of them are in Armenia. Besides the above mentioned monastic complex, the other known samples of double-conch vaulted hall in Armenia are St. Harutyun church of Sanahin and St. Sion church of Herher (both of them are of 13th century). The western entrance, with ornamented cross-stones on both sides of it, attracts attention. Now it is the tumbledown church, with ruined vault, coating, surfacing and some parts of the walls.

Construction Characteristics:

Architectural Type: The church is a kind of double-conch valulted hall.
Building Technique/Materials:	It is built of yellow smooth stones, the western entrance is ornamented with cross-stones on both sides.

Temporal Phases:

The was funded in 1193-98 by prince of Nor Berd David.

Place:

The church is situated in Tavoush marz, approximately 2 km to the west from Varagavan village, on the slope of the wooded mountain.

Crypt

Basic Momument Information:

Originator Of Reference: Center for the Scientific Research of Monuments Country: Republic of Armenia Monument Category: Building Functional Type: Funerary Building Monument Type: Crypt Monument Sub-type: Monastery Crypr Principal Name: Crypt Principal Date: 12th Byzantine Date: Middle Byzantine Person in Charge: Ms. Hasmik Azizyan Organization of Person in Charge:

Information Text:

The northern part of St. Nshan church adjoins the vaulted crypt. The front entrance is made of incised ornaments.

Chapel

Basic Momument Information:

Originator Of Reference: Center for the Scientific Research of Monuments Country: Republic of Armenia Monument Category: Building Functional Type: Religious Building Monument Type: Christian Church Monument Sub-type: Monastery Chapel Principal Name: Chapel Principal Date: 12th century Byzantine Date: Middle Byzantine Person in Charge: Ms. Hasmik Azizyan Organization of Person in Charge:

Information Text:

The southern part of Anapat Church ajoing - the single-aisle little chapel. The front entrances is made of incised ornaments. Some parts of the walls are ruined, some parts of the vaults are shaken, the volumes of the circular dome in the first floor are also ruined, as well as coating and surfacing of the pyramidal dome and the slope.

Little Gavit

Basic Momument Information:

Originator Of Reference: Center for the Scientific Research of Monuments Country: Republic of Armenia Monument Category: Building Functional Type: Residential Building Monument Type: House Principal Name: Little Gavit Principal Date: 13th century Byzantine Date: Late Byzantine Person in Charge: Ms. Hasmik Azizyan Organization of Person in Charge:

Information Text:

It was built in the middle of 13th century. The little gavit adjoins St. Nshan church from the west and the main, St. Astvatsatsin, church from the south. The plan of the gavit is a rectangular quadrangle, which is protruded from north to south. Now the ruined vaulted covering is leaned upon two columns with lengthened axis of the building. The southern wall is completely destroyed, the western one is destroyed partially.

Construction Characteristics:

Architectural Type: The plan of the gavit is a rectangular quadrangle.
Stuctural Parts:	Columns Walls

St. Astvatsatsin (main) Church

Basic Momument Information:

Originator Of Reference: Center for the Scientific Research of Monuments Country: Republic of Armenia Monument Category: Building Functional Type: Religious Building Monument Type: Christian Church Monument Sub-type: Monastery Katholikon Principal Name: St. Astvatsatsin (main) Church Principal Date: 13th century Byzantine Date: Late Byzantine Person in Charge: Ms. Hasmik Azizyan Organization of Person in Charge:

Informaion Text:

The church was built in 1224 by abbot Hovhannes under the sponsorship of prince David Bagratouny's son Vasak. The architect was Gazan Anetsi. According to the plan, outside it is right-angled, inside it is cross-shaped domical hall with, having triangular section, grottos on northern and eastern facades of it. In the corners there are two-storied side-altars. The entrances are on southern and western sides. The architectural rich ornamentation of the church, such as the western front entrance worked-up with parti-colored stones, the circles of the windows, etc. St. Astvatsatsin church is one of the high culture samples of Armenian Medieval architecture. The monument is stable, but needs strengthening and restoration works. The walls are partially ruined. The kept parts of the walls, as well as the cornices, coatings of the roof slopes and pyramidal dome are half-ruined.

Construction Characteristics:

Architectural Type: Cross-shaped domical hall
Building Technique/Materials:	The western front entrance, the circles of the windows, etc. are worked-up with parti-colored stones.
Stuctural Parts:	Dome Two Side Altars Walls

Large Gavit

Basic Momument Information:

Originator Of Reference: Center for the Scientific Research of Monuments Country: Republic of Armenia Monument Category: Building Functional Type: Residential Building Monument Type: House Principal Name: Large Gavit Principal Date: 13th century Byzantine Date: Late Byzantine Person in Charge: Ms. Hasmik Azizyan Organization of Person in Charge:

Information Text:

To St. Astvatsatsin church from the west adjoins the large gavit, built by the abbot of the monastery, Hovhannes Tayetsi, in 1237-61, This is a right-angled hall of approximately 200 m2 area, which was covered with vaults leaned on crossed arcs, without help of intermediate columns. Now the coating of the building is completely mined, whilst the walls are mostly ruined.

Construction Characteristics:

Architectural Type: Right-angled hall