1.
http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/michaelasanda-2512787-armenia33/

2.
The name Sanahin literally translates as "this one is older than
that one", presumably representing a claim to having an older
monastery than the neighboring Haghpat. The two villages and
their monasteries are similar in many ways, and lie in plain
view of each other on a dissected plateau formation,
separated by a deep "crack" formed by a small river flowing
into the Debed river. As with Haghpat, Sanahin is frequented
by an increasing number of tourists, due to its recent inclusion
on the itineraries of numerous Armenian tour agencies (these
two magnificent monastic complexes - included in UNESCO
heritage list - are among the most outstanding examples of
Armenian religious architecture)
Sanahin bridge built 1195

3.
The complex belongs to
the Armenian Apostolic
Church with numerous
khachkars (stones with
elaborate engravings
representing a cross)
and bishop gravesites
scattered throughout it
The Bell tower

4.
Sanahin's bell tower
was built between
1211 and 1235

5.
The Bell tower is a
three-story tower with
small annexes and a
multi-columned belfry
at the top. Sanahin's
bell tower was built
between 1211 and
1235

6.
Documentary evidence
suggest that the structures
date back to the reign of
king Abbas Bagratuni
(930s). The historians wrote
that the first structure of the
monastery, St. Astvatsatsin
church, was built by
Armenian immigrants from
Byzantium who had rejected
the Chalcedonian sect

7.
Khatchkar detail
Khachkars at Sanahin include one carved in
1192, commissioned by Queen Vaneni, who
had Sanahin bridge built over the Debed
River and memorial khachkar carved for her
husband King Abbas Bagratuni, who died
prematurely

8.
Details of Queen Vaneni’s Khachkars (1192)

9.
Khachkar
known as
Tsiranavor
1205-1222

10.
Sanahin complex consists of five
churches, two gavits, a cemetery,
a seminary (academy), book
depository, bell-tower, patrimonial
sepulchers and other structures
once encircled by a fortified wall.
The St. Astvastatsin gavit erected
in 1211

11.
The gavits front the two
churches (St. Astvatsatsin
and St. Amenaprkitch), on
their west end and are the
largest structures at
Sanahin, unique features
of Armenian religious
architecture.
The St. Astvastatsin gavit
erected in 1211

12.
The St. Astvastatsin
gavit erected in
1211

13.
The St. Astvastatsin
gavit erected in
1211

14.
The Seminary or
“Magistros
academy” is set in
a gallery at the
end of the St.
Astvatsatsin gavit
and was an
original work of
civil architecture
built in two
stages, at the end
of the 10th and
the beginning of
the 11th

15.
The structure includes closely spaced niches in the walls, presumably for
students to sit during lectures.

16.
It is named for
one of its
teachers, the
renowned 11th c.
Armenian
philosopher, writer
and scientist
Grigor Magistros
Pahlavuni (990-
1059), whose
letters are a
treasure trove of
information on
medieval
theology,
literature,
mythology,
politics, natural
sciences and
medicine

17.
The St.
Astvastatsin
gavit and the
Seminary or
“Magistros
academy”

18.
The Seminary or “Magistros academy”

19.
The St. Astvastatsin gavit
erected in 1211 and entrance in
St. Amenaprkitch gavit

20.
The St. Amenaprkitch or inner
gavit was built in 1181

21.
There are four large, expressive columns that
support the “yerdik” dome, an early example of the
use of four-column construction also popular in
peasant homes

22.
The St. Amenaprkitch gavit

23.
The columns divide the space into separate parts, their bases and capitals
decorated with carvings and reliefs.
St. Amenaprkitch gavit

24.
St. Amenaprkitch gavit

25.
St. Amenaprkitch gavit built in 1181

26.
St. Amenaprkitch (Holy Redeemer or All Savior) gavit built in 1181

27.
St. Amenaprkitch gavit built in 1181

28.
St. Amenaprkitch (Holy Redeemer or All Savior) church

29.
St. Amenaprkitch
(Holy Redeemer
or All Savior)
Katoghike
Church,
completed in 966

30.
The eastern façade of St.
Amenaprkitch (Holy Redeemer
or All Savior) Katoghike
Church, bas-relief sculpture of
Princes Kiurikeh (Giurgen) and
Smbat (sons of Ashot the
Merciful and queen
Khosrovanush) Bagratuni

31.
The St. Astvastatsin church

32.
The vestibules and galleries served as tombs for noble families

33.
The St. Astvastatsin church

34.
Scriptorium and Grigor Chapel

35.
Grigor Chapel
This late 10th century chapel
adjoins the south-east corner
of the book depository was
rebuilt in 1061

36.
Scriptorium
Sanahin's book depository and gallery are among the most
interesting buildings at Sanahin

37.
Scriptorium
Sanahin's book depository was
erected in 1063. Its large
octahedral tent roof rests on
diagonal arches set on half
columns in each wall.

38.
Scriptorium façade
detail

39.
Grigor Chapel
and Scriptorium

40.
Scriptorium

41.
Scriptorium
Haghpat and Sanahin are also connected to one of Armenia's greatest medieval
bards, Sayat Nova, who studied as a child at Sanahin (1712-1719) and later lived
at Haghpat first as a clergyman (from 1768), then as Grand Sacristan (1778-
1795)

42.
Scriptorium
detail

43.
Sanahin was
renowned for its
school of
illuminators and
calligraphers

44.
Sanahin
monastery
manuscript
(in National
Museum, Kraków)
Collection of
Breviary hymns
from the Sanahin
monastery

45.
Seminary (Academy), St.
Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of
God) church and Scriptorium

46.
The ancient source

47.
The ancient
source

48.
The 12th-century bridge of Sanahin

49.
The bridge of Sanahin is one of the famous engineering constructions of
medieval Armenia. According to the inscription on one of the khachkars found
near the bridge, it was built at the end of the 12-th century by the Armenian
queen Vaneni, in commemoration of her husband King Abbas (details)

50.
Harutioun Shamshinian - The bridge of Sanahin (1899)

51.
Sound: Isabel Bayrakdarian - Oracion a Dios
Text: Internet
Pictures: Internet
Sanda Foişoreanu
Copyright: All the images belong to their authors
Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu
www.slideshare.net/michaelasanda