Saint Gayane Church

Church of Saint Gayane
Saint Gayane Church
Shown within Armenia
Basic information
Location	Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin), Armavir Province, Armenia
Geographic coordinates	40°09′27″N 44°17′31″E / 40.157419°N 44.291986°E / 40.157419; 44.291986Coordinates: 40°09′27″N 44°17′31″E / 40.157419°N 44.291986°E / 40.157419; 44.291986
Affiliation	Armenian Apostolic Church
Architectural description
Architectural style	Armenian
Groundbreaking	630
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name: Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iii
Designated	2000 (24th session)
Reference no.	1011
Region	Western Asia

The Church of Saint Gayane (Armenian: Սուրբ Գայանե եկեղեցի; pronounced Surb Gayane) is a 7th-century Armenian church in Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin), the religious center of Armenia. It is located within walking distance from the Etchmiadzin Cathedral of 301. St. Gayane was built by Catholicos Ezra I in the year 630. Its design has remained unchanged despite partial renovations of the dome and some ceilings in 1652.

Gayane was the name of an abbess who was martyred with other nuns by Tiridates III of Armenia in the year 301, and subsequently made a saint of the Armenian Apostolic Church.^[1]^[2]

In 2000, Saint Gayane Church was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites along with historical churches of Vagharshapat.^[3]

History

Saint Gayane Church sits on the site where the aforementioned saint was martyred during the time of the conversion of Armenia to Christianity in the year 301 AD. The fifth 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 Hripsimé Church, while Gayané was tortured and martyred at this site where the church was later built. The remaining group of thirty-eight unnamed nuns were martyred at the location of Shoghakat. 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.

Architecture

Saint Gayane Church is a three-nave domed basilica with an octagonal drum resting on four internal pillars that divide the interior of the church into three naves. The middle sections of the side naves are elevated slightly over the corner ones and roofed with vaults across the building, forming a transversal nave. At the eastern wall of the church's interior is a semicircular apse with a rectangular chamber at either side. Three portals lead into the interior of the building. The main portal enters through the arched portico, while two side entries are located at the north and south walls.

Frescoes depicting saints on the tympanum above the door.

The exterior of Saint Gayane differs from the interior in that it has a cruciform-plan gable roof with the drum and dome placed central to the main structure.

An airy, triple-arched portico was added to the western façade of the church in 1683 as the burial place for prominent Armenian clergymen. The gallery is made up of five distinct yet continuous bays, each being open and linked to the one adjacent. Its three central bays have vaulted ceilings and large arched openings that lead to the exterior courtyard. The two side bays are slightly lower in height and are vaulted as well. Each is surrounded by walls at three sides with small quatrefoil windows placed on the exterior walls. Frescoes of clergymen adorn niches along the interior walls of the portico while saints are depicted on the frescoe of the tympanum above the main door. Graceful six-columned cupolas sit on the roof above the two end bays and may be seen from the exterior.

Saint Gayane along with eminent churches such as Saint Hripsime, Cathedral of Zvartnots and the Mother Church of Holy Etchmiadzin would become the essence and the pillar of spiritual strength of Christian Armenia.

Burials

Gallery

Frescoes of clergymen under the portico at the front of the church.
Main hall interior.
The apse at the eastern end of S. Gayane.
The interior of the drum and dome.
S. Gayane fragment of the building
S. Gayane outdoors
Roof
Saint Gayane Church
Saint Gayane Church inside

References

↑ Armenian Church
↑ (Russian) http://www.calend.ru/holidays/0/0/2027/
↑ UNESCO, Saint gayane

Bibliography

Brady Kiesling, Rediscovering Armenia, p. 34; 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 St. Gayane.

Historical 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

Nagorno-Karabakh	Amaras Dadivank Gandzasar Gtichavank Katarovank Tsitsernavank Yeghishe Arakyal Yerits Mankants

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

Cyprus	Surp Magar 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

Iran	Saint Stepanos Monastery Saint Thaddeus Monastery Surp Asdvadsadsin Church of Darashamb Surp Asdvadsadsin Church of Tabriz Chapel of Chupan Saint Gevorg Church of Haftvan Chapel of Dzordzor Surp Asdvadzadzin Surp Amenaprkich Vank Surp Bethlehem Church Surp Asdvadsadsin of New Julfa Surp Gevorg Church of New Julfa

Jerusalem and Holy Land	Cathedral of St. James St. Toros Church Chapel of Saint Helena Saint Nicholas Monastery

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

Armenia Portal

World Heritage Sites in Armenia

Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin Saint Hripsime Saint Gayane Shoghakat the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots Sites on the Tentative List The archaeological site of the city of Dvin The basilica and archaeological site of Yererouk The monastery of Noravank and the upper Amaghou Valley The monasteries of Tatev and Tatevi Anapat The adjacent areas of the Vorotan Valley

Protected areas of Armenia

National parks	Arevik Dilijan Lake Arpi Sevan

State reserves	Erenbuni Khosrov Forest Shikahogh

Botanical gardens	Ijevan Sevan Stepanavan Vanadzor Yerevan

Wildlife sanctuaries	Akhnabad Taxus Grove Sanctuary Aragats Alpine Sanctuary Arjatkhelni Hazel Sanctuary Arzakan-Meghradzor Sanctuary Banks' Pine Grove Sanctuary Boghakar Sanctuary Gandzakar Sanctuary Getik Sanctuary Goravan Sands Goris Sanctuary Gyulagarak Sanctuary Hankavan Hydrological Sanctuary Herher Open Woodland Sanctuary Ijevan Sanctuary Jermuk Forest Sanctuary Jermuk Hydrological Sanctuary Juniper Woodlands Sanctuary Khor Virap Sanctuary Margahovit Sanctuary Rhododendron caucasicum Sanctuary Plane Grove Sanctuary Sev Lake Sanctuary Vordan Karmir Sanctuary Yeghegnadzor Sanctuary Zangezur Sanctuary Zikatar Sanctuary

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