Description of the attraction
Goshavank Monastery is a medieval monastery complex of the XII-XIII centuries. It is located 20 km east of the city of Dilijan, in the village of Gosh, among village houses and turbulent mountain rivers. The monastery was founded by an outstanding public figure, theologian and priest Mkhitaryan Gosh with the assistance of Prince Ivan Zakaryan.
Initially, the temple was called Nor-Getik, which means New Getik in Armenian. The monastery received its modern name in 1213 after the death of its founder, Mkhitaryan Gosh. For many centuries the Goshavank monastery was one of the largest religious, cultural and educational centers in the territory of medieval Armenia. In historical sources it is referred to as a university or a seminary, which is not at all strange, since it was here that such famous cultural figures of the republic as K. Gandzaketsi and V. Vardapet lived and studied.
The construction of the monastery began in 1188 and ended at the end of the second half of the 13th century. According to the chroniclers, Mkhitaryan and his followers first built a small wooden church in honor of St. John the Baptist, and then, in 1191, laid the foundation of the St. Astvatsatsin church.
Many talented architects, carpenters and masons worked on the construction of the monastery. However, the names of only three masters have survived to this day - the architect Mkhitaryan, his student Hovhannes and the sculptor Poghosyan, the creator of the amazing khachkar Goshavank.
The monastic complex consists of: the Surb Astvatsatsin church built in 1196, the Surb Grigor Lusavorich church built in 1241, the vestibule built in 1203, a book depository with a bell tower, built in 1291, a school building of the 13th century, a gallery of the 13th century … and chapels of the XIII century. All buildings of the monastery complex were made in the classical style, adhering to all the traditions of the era - with a cruciform base and without decor. Among the buildings of particular interest is the Church of Surb Grigor Lusavorich, which is a small vaulted building with a rich exterior and luxurious interior.
In 1972, a small historical and architectural museum was opened at the monastery with preserved unique samples of khachkars and ancient manuscripts of Goshavank.
