Description of the attraction
Kecharis Monastery is an ensemble of ancient buildings and a classic example of medieval Armenian architectural art, located in the northwest of the resort town of Tsaghkadzor, on the slope of the Pambak ridge. The monastery complex consists of four churches, two chapels, a gavit and an ancient cemetery with stone khachkars of the XII-XIII centuries.
The construction of the Kecharis monastery was begun in the 11th century, but it was completely finished only in the middle of the 13th century. Construction work was carried out with funds donated by the princes of Pahlavuni.
The first in the monastery complex was the church of Gregory the Illuminator, which is the main temple of this ensemble. The decree on the construction of the temple was issued in 1033 by the owner of these lands - Grigor Pakhlavuni. This is evidenced by the inscription made above the southern doors of the church, which can be seen today.
The Church of Gregory the Illuminator is made in the form of a spacious hall topped with a wide dome. The dome was destroyed in 1828 during a strong earthquake. The external decoration of the church is rather modest. The portals of the entrances are bordered by protruding columns, and the narrow windows are framed by small arches.
To the south there is a small church - Surb Nshan, built at the beginning of the XI century. The church is crowned with a dome with a high round drum.
In 1214, the new owner of the region - Prince Vasak Khagbakyan - erected another church of the monastery complex - St. Katoghike, which is a real masterpiece of architecture. The cruciform façade, high dome and niches in the prayer hall indicate the architectural complexity of the building. The slender silhouette of the temple, the elegant interior correspond to the best artistic traditions of those times.
The fourth temple of the Kecharis Monastery - the Church of St. Harutyun was built in 1220. It is a rectangular church with a cylindrical dome on a high drum.
Between the churches of Surb Nshan and Gregory the Illuminator, there was previously a small chapel of the 11th century, which served as the tomb of Grigor Pakhlavuni. At the beginning of the XIII century. almost all the monastic buildings were destroyed by the Mongol-Tatars, but already in the middle of the century they were completely restored.
