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Zvartnots Cathedral (meaning "celestial angels”) is a 7th-century centrally planned aisled tetraconch type Armenian cathedral built by the order of Catholicos Nerses the Builder from 643-652. Now in ruins, it is located at the edge of the city of Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin). Zvartnots was built at a time when much of Armenia was under Byzantine control or influence and during the early invasions of Armenia by the Muslim Arabs. Dedicated to St. Gregory, it was located the place, where a meeting between King Trdat IIIand Gregory the Illuminator was supposed to have taken place

Ervand Kochar  (1899-1978) The Eagle of Zvartnots, 1955

In 2000, Zvartnots was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Inspired by an interpretation of the Apocalypse that predicted the second coming of Christ when the seven main churches of Christianity came together, Zvartnots was built to be the “seventh seal of the seventh tier of God's presence on earth” (Revelation 11:15-19 of the Holy Bible). One of the tallest churches on earth when it was built, Zvartnots was the most significant architectural development in the Byzantine world.

Its architecture had a direct

impact on the dome of St. Sophia in

Constantinople, which collapsed

as a result of earthquakes in

558 and 989. The master architect

for Zvartnots, T’rdat, is said to

have been commissioned to

restore St. Sophia's dome in 989-992 using the

tubular arch system developed

at Zvartnots

The cathedral is believed to have been built ca. 643-652. The construction was a great achievement; at the time it Zvartnots type was completely unique, a central dome type where the corners and apses became a part of the whole, suggesting a circle. Its massive size and unique construction was an engineering marvel, and a number of legends and reports are connected to the monument.

Zvartnots stood for 320 years before its collapse in the 10th century; by the time the historian Stepanos Taronatsi wrote of the church it was already in ruins, without giving a reason. How it collapsed is still debated, though most argues for one of two theories; earthquake, or as a result of Arab raids.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Zvartnots was still underground. An excavation was initiated by Khachik Vardapet Dadian in 1901-1907. In 1904 the architect Toros Toramanian began directing excavations and in 1905 he displayed the first results

Sayat Nova

Zvartnots oldest layer revealed the Urartian cuneiform stone of Rusa II (0.63 x 2.7 m in size), which noted the construction of gardens, canals, and sacrifices to the gods. Excavations uncovered the church, Catholicos’ palace in the southwest of the complex, adjoining service rooms, a roman-style bath, and different artifacts (ceramicware, vessels, jars, tools, jewelry), graves and a winery.

Interior Reconstruction by Toramanian

 Toros Toramanian created an architectural reconstruction of Zvartnots on display at the Museum

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The church design is also confirmed by its depiction in a relief panel at Paris’ St. Chapelle (1243-48), which shows a design of the church above Noahs’Ark on Mt. Ararat, believed to be a model of St. Grigor in Ani, a copy of Zvartnots 

A  7th-century sundial with Armenian  numbers of Zvartnots Cathedral

Next to the Rusa Stone is a reconstruction of the large cathedral sun dial with the inscription “Pray to God as he expects”. Sun dials were a common feature of Armenian churches, and highly accurate. Note the Armenian letters ringing the lower half of the dial; each Armenian letter represents an hour, from one to twelve

The palace complex, almost square in plan, southwest of the church, consists of two wings (east and west), divided by a corridor. This was where the Catholicos of All Armenians Nerses III Ishkhantsi lived and worked, leading the church in its struggles with the Arabs, Byzantines and the last vestiges of Pagan resistance in the country. It was his office, home and for a time the Seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church

Holy-Trinity-Church-Yerevan

The eagle (and lion) are ancient Armenian symbols dating from the first Armenian kingdoms that existed prior to Christ. These symbols are found on the Armenian Highland from times immemorial. Numerous Armenian dynasties such as Artaxiad, Arsacid, Bagratuni and Rubenid, used these symbols as their royal insignia

Zvartnots QuartetHorovel (Komitas); Havoon-havoon (Narekatsi); Ashkharums akh chim qashi (Sayat-Nova)

Komitas) Narekatsi Sayat-Nova

Sound: Zvartnots Quartet - Horovel (Komitas); Havoon-havoon (Narekatsi); Ashkharums akh chim qashi (Sayat-Nova)

Text: Internet

Pictures: Internet

Sanda Foişoreanu

Copyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu

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