Spitakavor Church of Ashtarak

Ծիրանավոր Ծիրանավոր եկեղեցի
Tsiranavor Church, October 2014
Shown within Armenia
Basic information
Location	Ashtarak, Aragatsotn Province, Armenia
Geographic coordinates	40°17′59″N 44°21′56″E / 40.299628°N 44.365417°E / 40.299628; 44.365417Coordinates: 40°17′59″N 44°21′56″E / 40.299628°N 44.365417°E / 40.299628; 44.365417
Affiliation	Armenian Apostolic Church
Architectural description
Architectural type	Small cruciform central-plan
Architectural style	Armenian
Completed	13th to 14th centuries

The church of Tsiranavor (Armenian: Ծիրանավոր եկեղեցի; meaning "Apricotish" because of the color of the tufa used as a building material for the walls) is located at the edge of a gorge in the town of Ashtarak in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia.

Confusion about the name

EU-sponsored information plaque with building description headed by wrong name at 13th Century Tsiranavor Church

Some confusion about the name of the churches of Spitakavor and Tsiranavor has seemed to have occurred due to the misplacement of the Russian markers located inside the two structures. New EU-sponsored information plaques with building descriptions adopted the wrong designations of the older plates thus amplifying the confusion.

Anyone that lives in the city around the area will tell you that Spitakavor ("Whitish") is the white church from the 5th Century, and Tsiranavor ("Apricotish") is the apricot colored church from the 13th Century.^[1] The name plaques at the churches however will tell you the opposite.

Nearby is also the church of Karmravor ("Reddish"), formally known as the Church of Holy Mother of God (Surb Astvatsatsin). It is a 7th Century Armenian Apostolic church. Furthermore, there are the churches of S. Mariane and S. Sarkis. In the gorge is a unique bridge built in 1664.

Location

It may be seen across the gorge from the church of Surp Sarkis, but is easiest reached via the streets of the neighborhood that it sits within. Very close (down the street 3 houses) and also sitting along the gorge is the church of Spitakavor (literally meaning whitish because of its color), built between the 5th-6th centuries.

Architecture

Tsiranavor is a small cruciform type church constructed between the 13th to 14th centuries. It is apricot-orange in color, because of the tufa stone used for the construction of the building. Presently, only the walls remain since the roof, drum, and dome have collapsed. There is a main portal to the structure at the front façade, and another at the side of the church. Interior walls are flat except for the semi-circular apse located directly across from the main portal. Very little decoration adorns the church other than some cruciform relief found on the exterior walls.

Legend

According to a legend, three sisters lived in Ashtarak, all of whom fell in love with the same man, prince Sargis. The elder two sisters decided to commit suicide in favor of the youngest one. One wearing an apricot-orange dress and the other wearing a red dress, they threw themselves into the gorge. When the youngest sister found out, she put on a white dress and also threw herself into the gorge. Sargis then became a hermit and three small churches appeared at the edge of the gorge, named after the sisters' dress colors.

Gallery

Eastern and northern side of Tsiranavor Church from the distance
Main entrance at the western side with southern entry in the background
Main entrance at the western side
Cross carvings on the front exterior wall to the right of the main portal.
Reconstructed sections of the upper walls.
Northern side
Tsiranavor Church in winter

References

Bibliography

Kiesling, Brady (2005), Rediscovering Armenia: Guide, Yerevan, Armenia: Matit Graphic Design Studio

External links

Armenian Architectural Studies

References

↑ Aragatsotn Province, stoneland-travel.com

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tsiranavor.

Historic 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 Notre Dame de Tyre Sourp Asdvadzadzin Sourp Boghos chapel Sourp Haroutiun Chapel Sourp Amenapergitch Sourp Stepanos Sourp Kevork Church Ganchvor 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 Church of the Holy Archangels 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

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