Monastery “Karmir Vank”, Nakhichevan

The Karmir Vank Monastery is a medieval Armenian monastery was located in the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, which is an exclave of Azerbaijan. The monastery was built in the 13th century and is known for its unique architectural style, which combines elements of Armenian art.

The complex consisted of several buildings, including a church, a chapel, a gavit (a covered entrance hall), and a mausoleum. The church had a cruciform plan and was built of red tuff stone, which gives the monastery its name “Karmir Vank,” meaning “Red Monastery” in Armenian.

The interior of the church was decorated with frescoes and carvings that depicted scenes from the Bible and the lives of the saints. The chapel, which is located to the west of the church, was also adorned with frescoes and had a unique conical dome.

The gavit, which serves as the main entrance to the church, was supported by four pillars and had an ornate portal carved with geometric patterns and floral motifs. The mausoleum, which was located to the east of the church, was the final resting place of the founder of the monastery, Hasan Jalal, and his family members.

Despite its rich cultural and historical significance, the Karmir Vank Monastery, according to the research of the Caucasus Heritage Watch, was destroyed by Azerbaijani authorities in 2003.

Vigen Avetisyan

Image source: history.am, wikipedia.org