Tanahat Monastery

Tanahat
View on the Tanahat Monastery in 2026
Tanahat Monastery is located in Armenia
Tanahat Monastery
Location within Armenia
Tanahat Monastery is located in Vayots Dzor
Tanahat Monastery
Location within Vayots Dzor
Religion
AffiliationArmenian Apostolic Church
Location
LocationVernashen, Vayots Dzor Province,
Armenia
Coordinates39°46′50″N 45°23′57″E / 39.78048°N 45.39910°E / 39.78048; 45.39910
Architecture
StyleArmenian
Completed8th–13th century

Tanahat Monastery (Armenian: Թանահատի վանք), is an 8th-century monastery 7 km south-east of Vernashen village in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia. It was built between the 8th and 13th centuries. The monastery was also called the Red Monastery because it was built of red stone. Tanahat monastery was built on the site of a pagan temple, which was dedicated to the Armenian goddess Anahit. A Christian temple was founded here in the 5th century. The early medieval cemetery is scattered next to the monastery. Tanahat Monastery functioned until the late Middle Ages and is now in good condition. According to the historian Stepanos Archbishop Orbelyan, in 735 the body of Stepanos Syunetsi was buried in Tanade monastery and a small chapel was built over the grave.

In 1273–1279, on the place of the chapel, under the patronage of Prince Prosh and his family, with the help of the local residents, the church of St. Stepanos was built with dark bluish basalt hewn stones. An inscription on the Saint Stepanos church says that it was constructed "during the rule of the valiant and illustrious Prince Prosh and his sons Papak', Hasan, and the child Eacci", around 1273-79.[citation needed]

Hunting scene at Tanahat Monastery

References

  1. ↑ Tanahat Monastery – Armeniapedia.org
  2. ↑ Tanahat Monastery | Historical and Cultural attractions in Armenia
  3. ↑ "Tanahat monastery – Armenia – Black Sea Silk Road Corridor". Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  4. ↑ Khudaverdyan, K. S.; et al. (1995). Armenian Concise Encyclopedia, Volume 2. Yerevan: Main editor of the Armenian encyclopedia. p. 264. ISBN 5-89700-003-4.
  5. ↑ Mathews, Thomas F.; Sanjian, Avedis Krikor (1991). Armenian Gospel Iconography: The Tradition of the Glajor Gospel. Dumbarton Oaks. pp. 14–16. ISBN 978-0-88402-183-4.