Havuts Tar

Havuts Tar Monastery Հավուց Թառ Վանք
The monastic complex of Havuts Tar.
Religion
Affiliation	Armenian Apostolic Church
Location
Location	Near Goght and Garni, Kotayk Province, Armenia
Architecture
Completed	11th-13th centuries

Havuts Tar (Template:Lang-hy; also Havuts Tar Vank; translates to the "All Savior Monastery") is a 11th- to 13th-centuries walled monastery in the Azat River Valley across from the villages of Goght and Garni in the Kotayk Province of Armenia. It can be reached easily from the Khosrov State Reserve which it is situated within, located across the Garni Gorge. A trail leads directly from the left side of the reserve entrance to the monastic complex. Khachkars can be found midway along the trail as it forks left upon a very low mound. Also a short distance from the monastery (clearly visible in the background) in a small field to the left there is a large khachkar and a small monument/shrine. Following the trail a little further leads to the walls and ruins of the monastic complex. Just before entering through the wall of the monastery, a trail leads to the right up a hill and through a slightly wooded area. At the end of this trail not too far away, are the ruins of a small chapel with two khachkars nearby to the left and one to the right.

Monastic complex

Within the walls of the Havuts Tar monastic complex is a church located in the middle, ruins of another building adjacent to it, monastic buildings situated around a portion of the walls, vaulted guest rooms, and a large underground chamber. There are numerous inscriptions and beautiful carvings to be found all over the complex. Just outside of the monastery walls, are remnants of the stone foundations of other smaller structures. The majority of the monastic complex was built between the 12th and 14th centuries. After being destroyed by a large earthquake in 1679, it was rebuilt in the early 18th century by the Catholicos Astvatsatur Hamadantsi.

Amenaprkich Church

On the western outcrop upon a hill is the Amenaprkich Church (which can be seen from across the gorge all the way to Garni Temple) with a small number of graves nearby. The building is constructed of a mixture of burnt orange and dark brown tuff. The ruin of another small grey structure is attached adjacent to the main church, a portion of which has since collapsed and lay at the base of the hill below. According to Mkhitar Airivanatsy, Gevorg Marzpetuni built the Amenaprkich Church in the 10th century. It was later rebuilt in 1013 by Grigor Magistros Pahlavuni, son of Vasak Pahlavuni according to inscriptions.

The monastery is known to have had a brief visit during October 1734 by Abraham Kretatsi during the time while he was serving the Catholicos Abraham II. He brought a monk as a guide and spent two days there while on his pilgrimage to a number of monasteries.

Gallery

• 
  Chapel located near Havuts Tar.
• 
  Church within the walls of the complex.
• 
  Underground chamber in the complex.
• 
  Amenaprkich Church upon the western outcrop.
• 
  Detil of Amenaprkich Church and structure adjacent.

References

Bibliography

• Kiesling, Brady (June 2000). Rediscovering Armenia: An Archaeological/Touristic Gazetteer and Map Set for the Historical Monuments of Armenia (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 November 2021.
• Kiesling, Brady (2005), Rediscovering Armenia: Guide, Yerevan, Armenia: Matit Graphic Design Studio
• Hacikyan, Agop J. (2002), Miǰnadar: The Heritage of Armenian Literature, Vol. 3: From the Sixth to the Eighteenth Century, Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press, ISBN [[Special:BookSources/08143302318 |08143302318 [[Category:Articles with invalid ISBNs]]]] {{citation}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)

External links

• Armeniapedia: Havuts Tar Monastery