Varagavank
Encyclopedia
Varagavank also known as Yedi Kilise (Turkish for "Seven Churches"), was a prominent Armenian monastery
founded in the 11th century on the slopes of Mount Varag
(Erek Dağı) 9 km east of the city of Van
in Turkey
's Eastern Anatolia region
.
It was formerly the richest and best known known monastery of Vaspurakan
and was the seat of the archbishop of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Van. On April 30, 1915, the Ottoman army destroyed the monastery during the siege of Van as part of the Armenian Genocide
; its ruins are still visible, though.
Khrimian Hayrik established the first printing press of Western Armenia at Varagavank. Its first publication was Artsiv Vaspurakan.
early in his reign (1003–24) to house a relic of the True Cross
that had been kept in a simple 7th century hermitage on the same site. It also was the location of the necropolois of the Artsruni
kings. Over the years, Varagavank became the richest and most celebrated monastery of the Lake Van
area. The Armenian archbishops of Van resided here until the late nineteenth century, when one of them, the future Catholicos Mkrtich Khrimian "Hayrik" (Father), founded Artsiv Vaspurakani (The Eagle of Vaspurakan), the first newspaper ever printed in Armenia proper.
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
founded in the 11th century on the slopes of Mount Varag
Mount Varag
Mount Erek is a horny mountain overlooking the city of Van in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey.- Historical sites :...
(Erek Dağı) 9 km east of the city of Van
Van, Turkey
Van is a city in southeastern Turkey and the seat of the Kurdish-majority Van Province, and is located on the eastern shore of Lake Van. The city's official population in 2010 was 367,419, but many estimates put this as much higher with a 1996 estimate stating 500,000 and former Mayor Burhan...
in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
's Eastern Anatolia region
Eastern Anatolia Region
The Eastern Anatolia Region is one of seven non-administrative subdivisions of Turkey and encompasses its eastern provinces.The region and the name "Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi" were first defined at the First Geography Congress in 1941. It has the highest average altitude, largest geographical area, and...
.
It was formerly the richest and best known known monastery of Vaspurakan
Vaspurakan
Vaspurakan was the first and biggest province of Greater Armenia, which later became an independent kingdom during the Middle Ages, centered around Lake Van...
and was the seat of the archbishop of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Van. On April 30, 1915, the Ottoman army destroyed the monastery during the siege of Van as part of the Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
; its ruins are still visible, though.
Khrimian Hayrik established the first printing press of Western Armenia at Varagavank. Its first publication was Artsiv Vaspurakan.
History
The monastery of Varag was founded by the Armenian King Senekerim-Hovhannes (Sennacherib-Jacob) of the Artsruni DynastyArtsruni
Artsruni was an ancient Armenian noble family that claimed descent from Sennacherib, King of Assyria . Although it mirrors the Bagratuni claim of Davidic descent and the Mamikonian claim of descent from the royal Han Dynasty, it is usually interpreted as a piece of genealogical mythology...
early in his reign (1003–24) to house a relic of the True Cross
True Cross
The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition, are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.According to post-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a...
that had been kept in a simple 7th century hermitage on the same site. It also was the location of the necropolois of the Artsruni
Artsruni
Artsruni was an ancient Armenian noble family that claimed descent from Sennacherib, King of Assyria . Although it mirrors the Bagratuni claim of Davidic descent and the Mamikonian claim of descent from the royal Han Dynasty, it is usually interpreted as a piece of genealogical mythology...
kings. Over the years, Varagavank became the richest and most celebrated monastery of the Lake Van
Lake Van
Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey, located in the far east of the country in Van district. It is a saline and soda lake, receiving water from numerous small streams that descend from the surrounding mountains. Lake Van is one of the world's largest endorheic lakes . The original outlet from...
area. The Armenian archbishops of Van resided here until the late nineteenth century, when one of them, the future Catholicos Mkrtich Khrimian "Hayrik" (Father), founded Artsiv Vaspurakani (The Eagle of Vaspurakan), the first newspaper ever printed in Armenia proper.
Burials
Among the burials at the necropolis of the Artsruni House at Varagavank included:- King Senekerim-Hovhannes, who died in 1024 in Sebasteia (Sebastia, Sivas)
- Queen Khoshush, the widowed wife of King Senekerim-Hovhaness (buried by his side)
External links
- THE MONASTERY OF VARAGAVANK at Virtual Ani
- Gagik Arzumanyan's photo gallery
Sites with recent pictures
- Armenian Monastery of Varagavank at The Land of Crying Stones (Recent pictures of the ruins)
- Varagavank' Monastery at RensselaerRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteStephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
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