One of Armenia’s
main attractions and must see place to experience is the Noravank Monastery
located in the Vayats Dzor Province about an hour southeast of Yerevan. Translated as “new monastery” this was
founded in 1205 AD by Bishop Hovhannes, the former abbot from Vahanavank Church
located near the present day city of Kapan.
Situated in a narrow gorge by the Amaghu River, Noravank Monastery is next
to the city of Yegheghnadzor and is surrounded by gorgeous red rocks and
surrounding trees. One of the more
iconic sights in Armenia, the medieval architecture is what makes it so unique
and worth visiting.
I had the good
fortune of visiting Noravank on 3 different occasions. The first time I saw it on a pilgrimage with
my organization during the springtime of 2017.
The scenery was not that great because there was overcast and no green
in the background. My second time was
during the end of spring when everything was in bloom and absolutely
gorgeous. I went back for the third time
during the summer time because I just recently bought a drone and wanted to get
aerial pictures.
The Noravank
Monastery Complex consists of the St. Astvatsatsin church, St. Stepanos
Nakhaveka and gavit, the St.Grigor Church and Orbelian Sepulchre, the remains
of medieval apels and residential quarters and a modern office and dining
hall. The semicircular tympanum of the
entrance has a relief with the icon of the Blessed Virgin with the infant
Christ and two saints (Peter and Paul) facing her. The saints are pictured with narrow eyes so
as to please the Mongols who conquered Armenia in 1236 and thus preserve the
monastery from destruction.
The main
structure and the iconic site at Noravank Monastery is the Surb Astvatsatsin
that was built in 1339. In Armenian it
translates to Holy Mother of God and sometimes referred to as Burtelashen or
Burtel’s work in honor of the Prince Burtel Orbelian, the royal who financed it
during his reign in the Syunik province in the early/mid 14th
century. The Surb Astvatsatsin also has three
levels and considered a masterpiece by the renowned artist/sculptor/architect
Momik. Momik’s grave lies next to the
church on its south side. He began his
career as an artist of manuscripts in Kilikia where Crusaders exposed him to
the late gothic style art. It was in
1299 that Bishop Stepanos Orbelian brought Momik to Vayots Dzor, where quickly
became accomplished and celebrity, particularly for his sculptural work,
creating khachkars (Armenian cross stones) that are considered the greatest and
most respected of it’s era.
The first floor
was designed for the royal family tombs, marked by elaborate khachkars and
votive plates. You are able to go inside
since there are no restrictions here.
Most people will go and light a candle here and say a prayer even though
this is not the main church. The main
church is Surb Karapat or St. John the Baptist just meters away.
To get to the
second floor you must take either of the narrow iconic stairs. When I say narrow, I mean narrow! Luckily, there is a rope attached to the
walls for support. Just above the
entrance you’ll see carved an effigy of Christ surrounded by two angels. Take a seat on the top of the stairs and
overlook the mountains and forests. It’s
beautiful and worth the view even if you’re afraid of heights like me. Once you enter you’ll immediately see the
window of the left hand side and the beautiful dome supported by an open-air
rotunda. The open design lets in the
perfect amount of light. Due to the
popularity of this area, it might get crowded since so many people are trying
to take their pictures here.
The main church
is the St. Stepanos Nakhaveka and it was built in 1227 by the decree of Prince
Liparit Orbelian. There have been a few
earthquakes throughout its history so it’s been rebuilt few times. The latest renovations were done in the 1980s
and completed in 2001. The church itself
is a domed cruciform. The second level
chambers were used by monks for prayer, study, to create manuscripts while the
lower chambers were used as shrines, vestry, and to keep the church
treasury.
As you walk
towards the main entrance you’ll pass some more khachkars and being greeted by
more intricate carvings just above the entrance door. Once inside, pay close attention to the
details in the roof, the graves on the floors, as well the writings on the wall. Walk up to the upper chamber and observe the
small and humble chapel inside. There
are also tiny staircases that take you to tiny prayer/meditation rooms
too.
The other
buildings are not much to look at but towards the other side are numerous
khachkars that are intricately made and unique to look at. If you’re up for a small hike there are small
trails towards the mountains that will take you to some incredible vista
points. I took those to get some of the
pictures I took. Make sure you have the
proper foot ware since it is a decent incline.
Overall, it
shouldn’t take you more than an hour to thoroughly examine and appreciate the
beauty of this Armenian gem. It has a
unique history and is a cultural treasure that Armenians are particularly proud
of. Only an hour away from Yerevan, it’s
a must see attraction if you’re looking for something to see while visiting
Armenia.
Happy
traveling.
