Jrapi Caravanserai

Yereruyk Basilica is one of the most remarkable early Christian monuments in Shirak Province. It is located near the village of Anipemza, on the left bank of the Akhuryan River, not far from the historic capital of Ani. The basilica dates back to the 4th-5th centuries and is considered one of the unique examples of Armenian church architecture. Yereruyk is a three-nave basilica built of light orange tuff. It stands out for its large scale, exterior arched galleries, and composition placed on a multi-stepped platform. The structure was surrounded by steps leading to the basilica’s halls and entrances. The basilica had three entrances: two from the south and one from the west. There are different versions about the origin of the name Yereruyk. The most common explanation connects it with the Armenian word “yereral,” meaning “to tremble” or “to shake.” According to popular etymology, from a distance the basilica standing on its columns seemed to be trembling. This vivid explanation adds a sense of mystery to Yereruyk and makes it one of the most fascinating historical sites in Shirak. Yereruyk is important not only for its architecture but also for the archaeological environment around it. Traces of underground structures, a fortified area, a settlement, a reservoir, and a burial ground have been found in and around the basilica site. During excavations in 2011, an exceptional burial ground for early Christian Armenia was uncovered, containing numerous child burials. Many questions about the history of the basilica still remain unanswered. Historical sources contain almost no references to Yereruyk, and the surviving inscriptions are few. One of them mentions a donation made by the wife of Hovhannes-Smbat, one of the Bagratid kings, for the restoration of the basilica. Today, Yereruyk Basilica has survived in a semi-ruined state. Yet with its scale, silence, and open field setting, it continues to leave a powerful impression. In 1995, Yereruyk Basilica and its archaeological site were included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List as an important monument of Armenia’s early Christian heritage.

Hogevank St. Karapet Church is located in Shirak Province, about 3 kilometers northwest of the village of Sarnaghbyur, on the left side of the road leading to Maralik. This medieval complex is also known as the Red Monastery and Dzoragyugh Monastery. According to the inscription preserved above the northern entrance, the church was built in 1205. It belongs to the domed hall type of Armenian churches. On the eastern side of the structure is the semicircular main apse, with rectangular vaulted sacristies on both sides. St. Karapet Church has two entrances: one from the west and one from the north. Niches typical of Armenian architecture are preserved on the façades. The church was built of finely cut red tuff stone, which is why the complex became known as the Red Monastery. During later renovations, black and gray tuff stones were also used. The dome of the church collapsed during the 1939 earthquake and was restored in the 1980s. Inside the church, carved and inscribed fragments of 4th-5th-century quadrilateral monuments and 13th-century khachkars have been preserved. Some of them have been weathered over time and are now difficult to read. The area of Hogevank is important not only because of the 13th-century church. About 50 meters north of St. Karapet Church, the lower rows of the walls of a 5th-century single-nave church and a 7th-century tetraconch church have also been preserved. This shows that the site had Christian religious significance as early as the Early Middle Ages.

Zagha, or the hermitage of St. Gregory the Illuminator, is located in the northern part of Sarnaghbyur village in Shirak Province, carved into the rock. The official name of the sanctuary is Andzavajur, but among the people it is better known as Zagha. According to local tradition, St. Gregory the Illuminator spent some time here in ascetic retreat or took shelter in this place. For this reason, the cave sanctuary became a pilgrimage site where people visit for prayer, vows, and spiritual peace. Inside the pilgrimage site, there is a prayer hall, a water basin, and a separate section connected with the sanctuary. The water is considered healing among locals and pilgrims, while icons, khachkars, spiritual books, and other offerings brought over the years are preserved inside the sanctuary.

Lmbatavank is located in Shirak Province, about 1.5-2 kilometers southwest of the town of Artik, on the slope of a hill. It is also known as St. Stephen Church of Lmbatavank or St. Stephen of Sarnaghbyur. The church dates back to the 6th-7th centuries and is considered one of the most elegant early medieval monuments of Shirak. It is a cross-shaped, central-domed structure built of finely cut Artik tuff stone. Although Lmbatavank is small in size, it is architecturally expressive, with upward-looking proportions, a horseshoe-shaped apse, narrow arched windows, and an octagonal drum. Historical sources provide very little information about Lmbatavank, but the inscriptions preserved on the walls offer important details about the later life of the monastery. One of the earliest inscriptions dates to 1191 and is connected with Barsegh, the son of Vahram Pahlavuni. The inscriptions also mention villages donated to the monastery, such as Tsitsk, Sarnaghbyur, Hayrenyats Taghk, and Yardik, the area of present-day Artik. One of the most valuable features of the church is the remains of frescoes preserved inside. They are considered distinctive examples of Armenian monumental painting. The images preserved on the conch of the main apse and the eastern wall are connected with the scene of the “Theophany,” inspired by the vision of the Prophet Ezekiel. The surroundings of Lmbatavank were excavated in 1953-1954. During the excavations, bases of khachkars, graves from the 9th-10th centuries, carved fragments from the 7th-13th centuries, roof tiles, metal tools, and other findings were discovered. In the 1950s, the partially damaged dome, the coverings of the cross-arms, and the cornices of the church were also restored. Today, Lmbatavank stands out with its modest size, dark tuff color, and views opening from the hill. It is an interesting stop for those who want to discover not only the well-known large monasteries of Shirak, but also quiet, ancient church monuments with deep historical value.