Armenian alphabet - letters sent by heaven

Religious tour to Armenia: You will take tour to the the monasteries of Hovhannavank, Saghmosavank, St. Gevork in Mughni, visit the church of Mesrop Mashtots and the temple of the Holy Cross in Aparan.

9 The Church of Mesrop Mashtots

St. Mesrop Mashtots is the creator of the Armenian alphabet, Armenian language and literature, the founder of Armenian literature and school, the first teacher of the Armenian language. After his death, Prince Vahan Amatuni and commander Hmayak Mamikonyan took his body to Oshakan. Three years later, in 443, Vahan Amatuni built a chapel at the top of his grave.

To honor Mesrop Mashtots’s memory, Catholicos Hovsep instructed Koryun to write about the life and creative activity of Mesrop Mashtots. In 1875-79 years Catholicos Gevorg IV is building a new church of the basilic type in the place of the old chapel. In the direction of the altar is the mausoleum of Mesrop Mashtots (433), which is a sacred place for pilgrimage. On his tomb the ordination of Armenian monks is performed.

10. Hovhannavank monastery

The monastery complex Hovhannavank was built here in the 4th century on the site of a pagan temple. Later Gregory the Illuminator buried in this place the relics of John (Hovhannes) the Baptist and “Hovhannavank” is derived from his name. There were various educational institutions, a secondary school in the monastery, where philosophy, music, philology were taught.

In Hovannavank there worked dozens of copyists who copied many manuscripts. Nowadays, there are about 20 manuscripts preserved in The Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts – Matenadaran, which is located in Yerevan.

In the 17th century Zakaria Sarkgavag Kanakertsi lived here.  It was he who wrote the story of Hovhannavank. The activity of Hovhannavank stopped at the beginning of the XIX century.

11. Saghmosavank

The monastery is located in the village of Saghmosavan, on the right bank of the Kasakh River. According to tradition, it was founded by Gregory the Illuminator. Saghmosavank Monastery was built in 1215 when the prince Vache Vachyutian ordered to erect there the temple of Surb Zion.

The facade of the church is decorated with Armenian niches. The monastery was surrounded by a semicircular gate with fortified walls.  In 1267 Vardan Areveltsi founded a school where Gevorg Skevratsi copied "Tonapatchar" collection (nowadays is in Etchmiadzin cathedral). 

For a certain period of time Grigor Tatevatsi taught at a school established at Saghmosavank.  The monastery was also a writing center, and some of the manuscripts written and copied here have reached our days. The writers of Saghmosavank were instructed to rewrite the manuscripts of Metzopavank and Sanahin.

12 The Church of the Holy Cross (Aparan)

Holy Cross Church also referred to as Kasagh Basilica is in the town of Aparan, Aragatsotn Province. The church dates to the fourth or fifth century and was restored in 1877, as well as having evidence of more recent renovation. The basilica sits on a two-step platform, so is like Yereruyk and Zvartnots in being placed on a raised base and there is a ruined apsed structure of unclear date to the north of the building suggesting that it may have been linked to a possible side chapel in the past. The apse is a protruding polygonal structure, which is relatively unusual in early South Caucasian basilicas, which appear to most frequently terminate in a flat east end.

In the late 40-ies the church was desecrated, because it was used as a storehouse for the collective farm, but in 1959 it was returned to the parish community.

13. Monastery of St. Gevorg in Mughni

According to the historiographer of the 17th century deacon Zachary Sarkavag, monastery of St. Gevorg in Mughni was founded in the first half of the 13th century by Hovhannavank's congregation that brought here St. Gevorg's relics. 

 During 13-15th centuries the monastery was a famous sanctuary where were written different manuscripts. In 1580 the leader of the church Master Voskan founded a bishop seat in the church.