Photographer's Note
Noravank (meaning new monastery) is a 13th century monastery, located 122 km from Yerevan in a narrow gorge made by the Darichay river, nearby the city of Yeghegnadzor, Armenia. The gorge is known for its tall, sheer, brick-red cliffs, directly across from the monastery. The monastery is best known for its two-storey S. Astvatsatsin church, which grants access to the second floor by way of narrow stones jutting out from the face of building. The monastery is sometimes called Amaghu-Noravank, Amaghu being the name of a small recently destroyed village above the canyon, in order to distinguish it from Bgheno-Noravank Monastery, near Goris. In the 13th–14th centuries the monastery became a residence of Syunik's bishops and, consequently. a major religious and, later, cultural center of Armenia closely connected with many of the local seats of learning, especially with Gladzor's famed university and library.
Noravank was founded in 1205 by Bishop Hovhannes, the former Abbot of Vahanavank. The monastic complex includes the church of S. Karapet, S. Grigor chapel with a vaulted hall, and the church of S. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God). Ruins of various civil buildings and khachkars are found both inside and outside of the compound walls. Noravank was the residence of the Orbelian princes. The architect Siranes and the remarkable miniature painter and sculptor Momik worked here in the latter part of the thirteenth and early fourteenth century.
B-F-G, aylincaliskan, MayrHayasdan, mpetrovic, tsvetanar has marked this note useful
Critiques | Translate
aylincaliskan
(248) 2008-04-18 4:47
hello Arsen,
nice colors, good composition and perspective...bravo:)
king regards
aylin
B-F-G
(322) 2008-04-18 4:57
Thats a very nice beuilding and a good description too. The low viewpoint makes the structure especially impressive.
MayrHayasdan (40) 2008-04-18 8:39 [Comment]
tsvetanar
(224) 2008-04-22 2:22
Hello, Arsen!
This is a very beautiful photo of a very beautiful church. It's so great that the sky is so blue and there's enough light: you've shown a very clear image of the place. I wish I could see it myself one day.
Thanks for sharing! :)
Regards,
Tsveti
Ferrus
(789) 2008-05-08 6:08
Hello Arsen,
this is a great photo of a wonderful church. I am really fascinated by Armenian churches because they are so mystic...
There are some old Armenian churches in the East of Turkey: these are the most beautiful churches I`ve ever seen, but unfortunately nobody cares about them.
I hope one day Turkey and Armenia will make peace, the borders will be free and Armenian workers can come to Eastern Turkey for restaurating these old churches.
Thanks for sharing
Regards
Ferhat
Photo Information
- Copyright: Arsen Manucharyan (anex) (26)
- Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2008-04-12
- Categories: Architecture
- Camera: Panasonic DMC FZ-50, Leica 35-420mm 1:2.8/7.4-88.8 ASPH.
- Exposure: f/6.3, 1/500 seconds
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Date Submitted: 2008-04-18 4:41
- Favorites: 1 [view]









