St. Astvatsatsin Church, Yeghipatrush

St. Astvatsatsin Church, Yeghipatrush

The Church of St. Astvatsatsin of Yeghipatrush is located in the village of Yeghipatrush, in the Aparan region of the Aragatsotn Province. It is a medieval church complex consisting of the main Church of St. Astvatsatsin, a gavit (narthex), and adjoining structures. The complex is dated to the early 13th century. An important basis for dating the church is an inscription preserved on the building bearing the year 657 of the Armenian calendar (1208 AD).

According to the surviving inscriptional data, the church was built by Vache Vachutyan, and its architect was Mkhitar Oshakantsi. The latter's name is mentioned in the inscription on a monument made of two khachkars (cross-stones) located about 100 meters east of the church complex.

The church is built of two colors of tuff stone — red and brown. The Church of St. Astvatsatsin is a centrally-domed structure. On the exterior it has a quadrangular form, while inside it has a cross-shaped composition. Two-story chambers are placed in the structure's four corners, which at the same time participate in forming the domed system.

A gavit is attached to the church on the west side. It belongs to the four-pillar type of gavit that was widespread in the 13th century.

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