Surb Karapet / St. John the Baptist Church - Noravank Monastery (Vayots Dzor province - Armenia)
N 39° 41.097 E 045° 13.950
38S E 519937 N 4392816
The St. John the Baptist Church (Surb Karapet) is the second and smaller preserved Armenian medieval church of the Noravank monastic complex in Vayots Dzor province of Armenia.
Waymark Code: WMQKJ4
Location: Armenia
Date Posted: 02/28/2016
Views: 2
The St. John the Baptist Church (Surb Karapet) is the second and smaller preserved Armenian medieval church of the Noravank monastic complex in Vayots Dzor province of Armenia.
St. John was built for Prince Liparit Orbelian (1216-1221). An earthquake destroyed the original dome and the building was rebuilt at least twice. The church is a domed cruciform with two story annexes in the corners. The second story chambers were used by monks for prayer, study and to create manuscripts, while lower chambers were used as shrines, vestry and to keep the church treasury. The altar apron has carvings, including designs pointing to the influence of the Georgian court, which supported the liberation of the region from Seljuks by forces led by Ivaneh and Zakareh Zakarian. Along the northern wall is the grave for Prince Smbat Orbelian, built by the medieval architect Siranes in 1275.
The most beautiful part of the church is its former gavit. Gavit was church's formal entrance, an academy, manuscriptorium, and community center. The first gavit was built immediately after the church, and rebuilt in 1261 by the architect Siranes for Prince Smbat Orbelian. Following the 1321 earthquake, the gavit was rebuilt, possibly by famous Armenian architect and sculptor Momik, adding a vaulted roof and two of Momik's most outstanding carvings on the tympanum for the door and the upper window arch.