Categories: Antiquities

The Church of John the Baptist – Byurakan, Armenia

The church of John the Baptist (Armenian: Սուրբ Հովհաննես Մկրտիչ) is located in the village of Byurakan, Aragatsotn Province, Armenia.

It is widely considered that the church was built in 10th century, but there is a lot of data indicating its much greater age, including the décor of the windows of the church and traces of walls surrounding its territory. That means that in addition to religious meaning, the church has been a defensive structure.

The building has two entrances, one of which is now completely sealed off. The cross depicted on the façade of the church belongs to the so-called Maltese style.

The church is surrounded by unique khachkars. According to the testimony of the locals, one of the khachkars was displayed in France. Generally, the khachkars date at the 10th century, but some experts think that they are much older.

by Alexander Bakulin

Vigen Avetisyan

Recent Posts

The Armenian Bronze Chariot: A Ritual Vehicle of the 14th Century BC

Among the most evocative artifacts to survive from the Armenian Highland's Late Bronze Age is…

2 days ago

Clowns of War: The Strange Battlefield Legacy of Medieval Armenian Theater

Long before "clown" became a synonym for children's birthday parties, the word described a hardened…

5 days ago

Dura-Europos and Ancient Armenia: A Crossroads of Priests, Inscriptions, and the Cult of Mithra

Introduction The fresco reproduced above — three white-robed priests, one wearing a tall conical hat,…

1 week ago

From Lake Van to Yerevan: The Bronze Helmet of Urartu, the First Armenia

The crested bronze helmet on the left of this comparison was not made by a…

2 weeks ago

A Tower Crowned by a Lion-Rider: Reading a Bronze Age Cult Vessel Through the Lens of the Armenian Highlands

A small, weathered piece of fired clay — barely 31 centimeters tall — sits today…

3 weeks ago