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The monastery complex of Geghard (meaning "spear") was founded in the 4th century by Gregory the Illuminator. It is a unique architectural construction in the Kotayk province of Armenia, being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage SiteThere are many often richly ornamented khachkars cut on rock surfaces and on the walls of the structures or put up on the grounds of Geghard in memory of a deceased or in commemoration of someone’s donation to the monastery. Geghard is one of the most frequented tourist destinations in Armenia

The monastery was founded in the 4th century, according to tradition by Gregory the Illuminator. The site is that of a spring arising in a cave which had been sacred in pre-Christian times, hence one of the names by which it was known, Ayrivank (the Monastery of the Cave). The first monastery was destroyed by Arabs in the 9th century.Nothing has remained of the structures of Ayrivank.

Saint Gregory the Illuminator

During the course of history the monastery suffered from the Mongol and later Lenk Timur’s invasions. It was partially destroyed because of the 1127, 1679 and 1840 earthquakes but was restored and renovated

Entrance in Katoghike Church Gavit

Inside the 1215 Katoghikeh the dome rests on a central square, supported by arches ascending from pilasters and half columns on the four corners of the central hall

The walls were once covered with frescoes

The walls boast a number of

inscriptions and carvings

commemorating medieval

benefactors to the monastery

Montserrat Caballe visited the Geghard Monastery

Adjoining the 1215

Katoghikeh is a large gavit built between 1215 and 1225 and connecting on its north side with a rough rock wall and springs which

have been worshipped since the

Bronze Age

The central aperture is topped with a tent-roof open dome, shaped into stalactites, popular in the 13th century in Armenia and Asia Minor

Entrance to Chapels in the

Rock and Seraphim over

Entrance

The first cave chamber, Avazan (basin), situated north-west of the vestry, was hewn in the 1240s in an ancient cave with a spring (a place of worship in pagan times)There is a cold spring (“Saint Spring”), flowing out of the rocks, inside the church

Avazan Cave-Church

Avazan cave church

Back outside, take a left up the stone stairs onto a mezzanine level which leads into a narrow corridor carved straight into the cliff face

The sides of the passage are covered in elaborate crosses and centuries old carved Armenian script, and lead eventually into an upper chapel, called a “gavit”

The upper gavitA gavit is often

contiguous to the west of a church

in a Medieval Armenian

monastery. It served as narthex (entrance to the

church), mausoleum and assembly room

Upper gavit

The upper gavit

This upper space, was carved from solid rock, completed in 1288.The room's acoustics are remarkable, perfect for Sharakan (Armenian religious chant)Geghard was renowned as a musical school and was unique in having among its famous composers a woman, Sahakadukht, who composed and taught at the monastery in the 8th century

The first monastery was destroyed by

Arabs in the 9th century, but it

was re-established and was flourishing

again by the 13th century

under the patronage of the Proshyan princes, who

are buried here. They provided it

with an irrigation

system in 1200, as well as

paying for the erection and

reconstruction of most of the

churches in the complex

The Proshyans’ sepulchre

The Proshyans’ sepulchre

The Proshyans’ sepulchre

The Proshyans’ sepulchre

the second cave church of Astvatsatsin (Holy Virgin)

The Proshyans’ sepulchre and the

second cave church of Astvatsatsin situated east of Avazan, were

hewn in 1283

The cave church of Astvatsatsin (Holy Virgin)

Church of Astvatsatsin

The cave church of Astvatsatsin (Holy Virgin)

At the back of the upper gavit, in a lower corner there is a small opening that looks down into the Proshian Sepulcher. It is thought the hole was opened in medieval times so that chanters above could make their music permeate the lower floor

The Proshyans’ sepulchre

The Proshyans’ sepulchre

The Armenian eternity sign

The coat-of-arms of the Proshian Princes on the Dome of the Geghart Monastery

Lusavorich (Gregory the Illuminator) Cave Chapels

Lusavorich (Gregory the Illuminator) Cave Chapels

Recent sculptures of Apostles Saints Bartholomew and Thaddeus in the Geghard Monastery

Sound: Armenian sacred music

Text: Internet

Pictures: Internet

Sanda FoişoreanuCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda