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TATEV MONASTERY TO HAVE NEW APPEARANCE BY ITS 1111TH ANNIVERSARY
http://asbarez.com/116330/tatev-monastery-to-receive-restorations-for-1111th-anniversary/
17:20, 18 November, 2013
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. Tatev Monastery Complex will
celebrate its 1111th anniversary in 2017. Advancing this date it is
considered to repair the complex. The Director of RVVZ Foundation
Artak Melkonyan stated this in a conversation with "Armenpress".
Among other things the Director of RVVZ Foundation Artak Melkonyan
underscored: "At the course of the next 4 years we'll focus our
attention on the restoration of the monastery. The relevant activities
have already been launched. The monastery will be repaired and
introduced to the public in 2017."
The Tatev Monastery is a 9th-century monastery located on a
large basalt plateau near the Tatev village in Syunik Province
in southeastern Armenia. The term "Tatev" usually refers to the
monastery. The monastic ensemble stands on the edge of a deep gorge
of the Vorotan River. Tatev is known as the bishopric seat of Syunik
and played a significant role in the history of the region as a center
of economic, political, spiritual and cultural activity.
In the 14th and 15th centuries Tatev Monastery hosted one of the
most important Armenian medieval universities, the University of
Tatev, which contributed to the advancement of science, religion
and philosophy, reproduction of books and development of miniature
painting.
Scholars of the Tatev University contributed to the preservation of
Armenian culture and creedduring one of its most turbulent periods
in its history.
The monastery is the "best-known site" in Syunik. Wings of Tatev,
a cableway from Tatev to Halidzor village was opened in October 2010.
It was included in the Guinness World Records as world's "longest
non-stop double track cable car."
According to tradition, Tatev Monastery is named after Eustateus,
a disciple of St. Thaddeus the Apostle, who preached and was martyred
in this region. His name has evolved to Tatev.
Popular etymology includes a legend telling of an event that is tied
to the construction of the main church, where an apprentice secretly
climbs to the top of its steeple intending to place a cross of his own
design. However, the apprentice is spotted by his master during his
descent. Shocked by his discovery, the apprentice loses his foothold
and falls into the abyss as he calls upon God to grant him wings,
which, in Armenian is: "Ta Tev".
Tatev Monastery is located in South-East Armenia, in the area of
ancientArmenian Syunik, not far from the city of Goris and 280 km away
fromYerevan. The Tatev plateau has been in use since pre-Christian
times, hosting a pagan temple. The temple was replaced with a modest
church following the Christianization of Armenia in the 4th century.
Development of the Tatev Monastery began in the 9th century when it
became the seat of the bishop of Syunik. In his History of the Province
of Syunik, historian Stepanos Orbelian describes the construction of
a new church near the old one in 848 through the financial assistance
of Prince Phillip of Syunik. With the growth of economic and political
importance of the centre, the aging buildings no longer suited its
requirements, and thus Bishop Hovhannes (John) obtained the financial
assistance of Prince Ashot of Syunik to construct the new monastery.
In the beginning of the 11th century, Tatev hosted around 1,000 monks
and a large number of artisans. In 1044, armed forces of neighbouring
emirates destroyed the St. Gregory Church and its surrounding
buildings, which were reconstructed soon after that. In 1087,
the church of St. Mary was built to the north of the complex. The
monastery suffered significant damage during Seljuk invasions in
the 12th century and the earthquake in 1136. In 1170, Seljuk Turks
plundered the Monastery and burnt some 10,000 manuscripts. The
Monastery was rebuilt through the efforts of Bishop Stepanos near
the end of the 12th century.
The Monastery was granted an exemption from taxes during Mongol rule.
It regained its economic strength with the assistance of the Orbelian
family. Its influence grew further when, in 1286, the Orbelians
assumed control of the monastery, Stepanos Orbelian was consecrated
metropolitan and succeeded in reuniting a number of surrounding
dioceses within its realm. With the establishment of the university in
the 14th century Tatev became a principal centre of Armenian culture.
During Timur Lane's campaigns into Syunik (1381-1387), Tatev was
looted, burnt, and dispossessed of a significant portion of its
territories. The Monastery received an additional blow during Shah
Rukh's invasion in 1434.
http://asbarez.com/116330/tatev-monastery-to-receive-restorations-for-1111th-anniversary/
17:20, 18 November, 2013
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. Tatev Monastery Complex will
celebrate its 1111th anniversary in 2017. Advancing this date it is
considered to repair the complex. The Director of RVVZ Foundation
Artak Melkonyan stated this in a conversation with "Armenpress".
Among other things the Director of RVVZ Foundation Artak Melkonyan
underscored: "At the course of the next 4 years we'll focus our
attention on the restoration of the monastery. The relevant activities
have already been launched. The monastery will be repaired and
introduced to the public in 2017."
The Tatev Monastery is a 9th-century monastery located on a
large basalt plateau near the Tatev village in Syunik Province
in southeastern Armenia. The term "Tatev" usually refers to the
monastery. The monastic ensemble stands on the edge of a deep gorge
of the Vorotan River. Tatev is known as the bishopric seat of Syunik
and played a significant role in the history of the region as a center
of economic, political, spiritual and cultural activity.
In the 14th and 15th centuries Tatev Monastery hosted one of the
most important Armenian medieval universities, the University of
Tatev, which contributed to the advancement of science, religion
and philosophy, reproduction of books and development of miniature
painting.
Scholars of the Tatev University contributed to the preservation of
Armenian culture and creedduring one of its most turbulent periods
in its history.
The monastery is the "best-known site" in Syunik. Wings of Tatev,
a cableway from Tatev to Halidzor village was opened in October 2010.
It was included in the Guinness World Records as world's "longest
non-stop double track cable car."
According to tradition, Tatev Monastery is named after Eustateus,
a disciple of St. Thaddeus the Apostle, who preached and was martyred
in this region. His name has evolved to Tatev.
Popular etymology includes a legend telling of an event that is tied
to the construction of the main church, where an apprentice secretly
climbs to the top of its steeple intending to place a cross of his own
design. However, the apprentice is spotted by his master during his
descent. Shocked by his discovery, the apprentice loses his foothold
and falls into the abyss as he calls upon God to grant him wings,
which, in Armenian is: "Ta Tev".
Tatev Monastery is located in South-East Armenia, in the area of
ancientArmenian Syunik, not far from the city of Goris and 280 km away
fromYerevan. The Tatev plateau has been in use since pre-Christian
times, hosting a pagan temple. The temple was replaced with a modest
church following the Christianization of Armenia in the 4th century.
Development of the Tatev Monastery began in the 9th century when it
became the seat of the bishop of Syunik. In his History of the Province
of Syunik, historian Stepanos Orbelian describes the construction of
a new church near the old one in 848 through the financial assistance
of Prince Phillip of Syunik. With the growth of economic and political
importance of the centre, the aging buildings no longer suited its
requirements, and thus Bishop Hovhannes (John) obtained the financial
assistance of Prince Ashot of Syunik to construct the new monastery.
In the beginning of the 11th century, Tatev hosted around 1,000 monks
and a large number of artisans. In 1044, armed forces of neighbouring
emirates destroyed the St. Gregory Church and its surrounding
buildings, which were reconstructed soon after that. In 1087,
the church of St. Mary was built to the north of the complex. The
monastery suffered significant damage during Seljuk invasions in
the 12th century and the earthquake in 1136. In 1170, Seljuk Turks
plundered the Monastery and burnt some 10,000 manuscripts. The
Monastery was rebuilt through the efforts of Bishop Stepanos near
the end of the 12th century.
The Monastery was granted an exemption from taxes during Mongol rule.
It regained its economic strength with the assistance of the Orbelian
family. Its influence grew further when, in 1286, the Orbelians
assumed control of the monastery, Stepanos Orbelian was consecrated
metropolitan and succeeded in reuniting a number of surrounding
dioceses within its realm. With the establishment of the university in
the 14th century Tatev became a principal centre of Armenian culture.
During Timur Lane's campaigns into Syunik (1381-1387), Tatev was
looted, burnt, and dispossessed of a significant portion of its
territories. The Monastery received an additional blow during Shah
Rukh's invasion in 1434.