Aghjots Vank

Aghjots Vank Աղջոց վանք
Aghjots Vank with the small chapel of 1270 (left)
Shown within Armenia
Basic information
Location	Located approximately 3 miles from Goght and Garni, and .5 miles from the hamlet of Mets Gilanlar in the Khosrov State Reserve, Ararat Province, Armenia
Geographic coordinates	40°06′25″N 44°48′27″E / 40.106929°N 44.807396°E / 40.106929; 44.807396Coordinates: 40°06′25″N 44°48′27″E / 40.106929°N 44.807396°E / 40.106929; 44.807396
Affiliation	Armenian Apostolic Church
Region	Caucasus
Status	Abandoned/ Ruins
Architectural description
Architectural type	Armenian; Monastery
Founder	Grigor Lusavorich
Funded by	Princess Zaza, Ivane Zakarian and Prince Grigor Khaghbakian.
Groundbreaking	Unknown
Completed	Saint Stephen Church, early 13th century Saints Paul and Peter Church, 1270 Gavit, late 13th century

Aghjots Vank (Armenian: Աղջոց վանք); also known as the Saint Stephen Monastery of Goght (Armenian: Գողթի Սուրբ Ստեփանոս վանք), is a 13th-century monastery situated along a tributary of the Azat River Valley within the Khosrov State Reserve located half a mile walk from the hamlet of Mets Gilanlar, and near the villages of Goght and Garni (approximately 3–4 miles) in the Ararat Province of Armenia. Not far from this location and also within the reserve is the fortress of Kakavaberd and the monastic complex of Havuts Tar.

Etymology

The etymology of Aghjots Vank is derived from the nearby abandoned village of Aghjots.

History and Site

According to local folklore, the monastery was founded by Grigor Lusavorich upon the site of the martyrdom of Stepanos (Stephen), a supposed companion to Saint Hripsime during the time of Armenia's conversion to Christianity in 301 AD. The 5th-century Armenian historian Agathangelos wrote that the young and beautiful Hripsimé who at the time was a Christian nun in Rome, was to be forcefully married to the Roman emperor Diocletian. She and the abbess Gayané among other nuns fled the tyrant emperor and left to Armenia. The pagan Armenian King Trdat received a letter from Diocletian in which he described her beauty. Trdat discovered where the nuns were hiding, and fell in love with Hripsimé and later Gayané. After her refusal of his advances, Hripsimé was tortured and martyred at the location of Saint Hripsime Church, while Gayané was tortured and martyred at a separate location where Saint Gayane Church was later built in 630. The remaining group of thirty-eight unnamed nuns were martyred at the location where the church of Shoghakat is today. During the time that Hripsimé was being tortured, Gayané told her to "be of good cheer, and stand firm" in her faith. King Trdat was to be later converted to Christianity and made it the official religion of the kingdom.

The exact date that the monastery was founded is unknown. What is known is that the majority of the monastery was funded by Princess Zaza during the 13th century.

The complex of Aghjots Vank consists of the church of Surp Stepanos or Saint Stephen, the church of Saints Paul and Peter, and the adjacent gavit.

Surp Stepanos church was built during the early 13th century and is the main church within the complex. It has a cruciform plan, four portals and a vaulted church of S. Poghos Petros attached to the northern wall.

The church of Paul and Peter was built in 1270 and has remarkable bas-relief carvings of Saints Peter (left) and Paul (right) that flank the portal.

A gavit that has since partially fallen down the hill, was added to the western end of S. Stepanos in the second half of the 13th century. Further construction was funded by Ivane Zakarian as well as by the local Prince Grigor Khaghbakian.

Aghjots Vank was sacked by the Persians in 1603 and restored soon after. It was destroyed again in the Earthquake of 1679 that destroyed the nearby monastery of Havuts Tar and the pagan temple of Garni. The monastery was despoiled again in the 18th century and permanently ruined during the Armenian–Tatar massacres of 1905–1907. It now sits in ruins within the Khosrov State Reserve.

Numerous inscriptions may be seen on the churches and gavit. The site has several khatchkars dating from the 12th to 17th centuries, some of which were built into the walls of the structures. There is a cemetery from the 7th to 17th centuries located approximately 150 meters west of the complex upon a hill.

Gallery

Map showing the location of Aghjots Vank in relation to the villages of Garni and Goght

References

Bibliography

Brady Kiesling, Rediscovering Armenia, p. 53; original archived at Archive.org, and current version online on Armeniapedia.org.
Kiesling, Brady (2005), Rediscovering Armenia: Guide, Yerevan, Armenia: Matit Graphic Design Studio

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aghjots Vank.

Historic Armenian monasteries and churches

Armenia	Aghjots Vank Akhtala Arakelots of Kirants Areni Artavazik Aruchavank Arshakid Mausoleum Bgheno-Noravank Byurakan Ddmashen Dvin Etchmiadzin Garnahovit Gayane Geghard Gharghavank Gladzor Gndevank Goshavank Haghartsin Haghpat Harichavank Havuts Tar Hayravank Hnevank Horomayri Hovhannavank Hripsime Jukhtak Vank Karbi Karmravor Kasagh Katoghike Katoghike Tsiranavor of Avan Kecharis Khor Virap Kirants Kobayr Kotavank Kristapori Vank Lmbatavank Makaravank Makenyats Vank Makravank Marmashen Mashtots Hayrapet Mastara Matosavank Neghutsi Vank Nor Varagavank Noratus Noravank Odzun Oshakan Pemzashen Ptghavank Saghmosavank Saint Paul and Peter Saint Gevork of Mughni Samsoni Sanahin Sevanavank Shoghakat Spitakavor of Ashtarak Spitakavor of Vayots Dzor Surp Astvatsatsin of Vagharshapat Surp Hakob of Kanaker Surp Mariane of Ashtarak Surp Sarkis of Ashtarak Talin Tanahat Targmanchats Vank Tatev Tatevi Anapat Tegher Tsakhats Kar Tsiranavor of Ashtarak Tsovinar Ushi Vahanavank Vahramashen Vanevan Vorotnavank Voskepar Voskevaz Yeghipatrush Yeghvard Yererouk Zoravor Zvartnots

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Azerbaijan	Saint Sarkis Monastery of Gag Targmanchats List of Armenian churches in Azerbaijan

Cyprus	Surp Magar Monastery Notre Dame de Tyre Sourp Asdvadzadzin Sourp Boghos chapel Sourp Haroutiun Chapel Sourp Amenapergitch Sourp Stepanos Sourp Kevork Church Ganchvor monastery

Georgia	Arants Vank Betlehemi Chugureti Ejmiatsnetsots Surp Gevork S. Grigor Lusavorich Jigrasheni Avetyats Kamoyants Karapet Karapi Karmir Avetaran Khojivank Krtsanits Tsiranavor (Geghardavank) Mughni Norashen Surp Nshan Saint Sarkis Surp Stepanos Zrkinyants

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Turkey	Aghtamar Ani Cathedral Arakelots Monastery Arapgir Cathedral Arter Banak Church of the Redeemer Holy Mother of God Cathedral Horomos Karmravank Kars Cathedral Khtzkonk Ktuts Lim Monastery of the All-Saviour (Trebizond) Mren Diyarbakir Soradir Narekavank Saint Bartholomew Monastery Surb Nshan Monastery Saint George of Samatya, Istanbul Saint Hakob of Akori Monastery Surb Karapet Monastery Surp Gevork of Goms Surp Marineh Church, Mush Tekor Basilica Varagavank Varzahan Monastery Yerazgavors

Ukraine	Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Surp Khach Monastery

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