1447? AD - Goghtn Region, Nakhichevan (Azerbaijan)

"St. Kristapor Church" © 2000 Raffi Kojian, All Rights Reserved

This monument is built in Verin district of Agulis, in the flat and comfortable area of Gindar mountain. Being founded in the central part of the town it was also considered the church of Mayr or Verin district. In front of St. Christaphor and its northern side is spread most part of houses and palaces of Agulis' Verin district.

According to the legend and the information that gave Zakaria Agulistsi this church "... built Tateos apostle... The first builders of this were Chirst's apostles". St. Christaphor church' western front and its dome are seen from number of districts of Agulis. In handwritten sources this church is mentioned since XVc. In 1447 one of Agulis' writers, Mateos precepter, in one of his works, in "Tonakan" wrote, "the village-town Agulis praisefull condition, under the patronship of apostle vestry, for sacred chapel Christaphor Geat martyr.... in Armenian year äÔÒ (1447)".

Later on it's known that in 1682 Naghash Hovnatan under that church' patronage wrote "History of Hreits" and other works.

St. Christaphor church, which has been repaired several times since its foundation, is built by four-pillar domed basilica composition. It consits of a senior vestry, two sacristies and a praying-hall with light and high interior, on the four thick pillars of which is placed the brick dome. It has three vaulted and ornament-carved entries in western, northern and southern fronts (the last two are closed in present). Above the squared beam of the western entry, in a four- corner circle is placed baby Jesus with crowned Holy Virgin's picture- carving in his lap. Another beautiful carving of Holy Virgin (p 30) is situated a little towards south from the entry, which as Z. Agulistsi evidences, during 1617- 1675 St. Chirstaphor's repairing was ordered by him. Under the vault of the northern entry, in a four-corner circle is placed an ornamented cross, and the territory above the squared beam of the southern entry is ornamented by a four- corner and then cross- carving in a circle. In the southern, nothern and western fronts of the church are put XVIIc 25 inscribed khachkars and stones and a high-relief.

In the southern side of the church from the Agulis' Oriordats school- building built in 1867 now remain unnoticable traces. Here, the XVIII- XIXcc several grave stones near the southern entry of the church have presently removed. In front of the western front of the monument, in its north-eastern corner is situated the fast-flowing spring with a vaulted basin built from trimmed stone. The inside space of St.Christaphor church in 1680 was wall-painted by Naghash Hovnatan. In present unharmed remain the wall-paintings of the dome, pillars and some part of the senior vestry, which resemble the wall-paintings of St.Tovma convent-temple. Here besides the many-colored natural motives there are also number of geographic ornaments. The wall- painting compositions of the dome and the drum are worth special attention. (p. 33b, 34). In the center of the dome, on the yellowish background of regular eighthedral ornaments formed by fine braidings of many-colored flowers start eight tree-shape and similar wall-paintings, which take the observer's eyes to the center of the dome. Later on Naghash' sons Harutyun and Hakob Novnatanyans based on this composition when in 1740 they were wall-painting one of Yernjuk region's remarkable monuments- Abrakunisi St. Karapet temple. The wall-painting art of St. Christaphor's dome also reminds the wall-painting of Goghtn's neighboring Magharda's or Shamb's famous St.Stepanos convent's (now in Iran, on the bank of Araks) main chapel's dome.

Such prarallels confirm that the wall-paintings of Shamb's St.Stepanos convent's main chapel were also dome by artists of Hovnatanyan family.

In the wall-paintings of St.Christaphor church also preserved some portrait- works of Naghash. They are the wing-stretched angels and historical men's portraits placed between the wall-paintings of the dome and the drum. From historical men here are pictured Mesrop Mashtots, Sahak Partev, Grigor Lusavorich and Nerses catholicos. Dressed, with croziers and gospels in their hands these historical men in four corners of the dome stare at the up-looking observers with their mild and meaningful looks.

The presently preserved constructions of St. Christaphor church were built in the second half of XVIIc, about which give information as Z.Agulistsi so the lythographs in the church walls. About repairing of St. Christaphor Z.Agulistsi has certain and detailed information. According to which in December 15 of 1670 Christaphor church "collapsed, its III- vestry was built from brick, the rest was wooden. The church built Tateos apostle; it remained till 1630 and was rebuilt.... then this way it preserved till 1670, then collapsed... After this Verin district's khoja Gyulnazar, Kichebek, Malkhan with people's money built it, till this year. In 1671 then took the foundation place of the old church, built the foundation from stone, clay, from Krdastan (Vaspurakan) came 30 workers, built from trimmed stone, till November they got to the tops of the doors... In March 20 of 1673 other workers came from Krdstan, they were 40 workers, built from trimmed stone and got to the vault... In March 19 of 1673 they finished the senior vestry of the church to perform a holy mass. Only the II- vestry was closed that year; it's this. In May 25 of 1674 from Krdstan came 18 workers, built the roof and other unfinished parts, no stone was left. In April 1 of 1675 from Krdstan came the same 17 workers, built the central IV- vauilt from trimmed stone, built all the unfinished parts. The local workers, 2 workers from Jugha- Ovanes and Khundvel built the cover with brick. The monument built the workers from Krdstan. The great workers from village Mosku. It was finished...".

As is seen from Z. Agulistsi's detailed description St. Christaphor was rebuilt in 1671- 1675, on which worked workers invited from Vaspurakan, as well as Agulisian and Jughetsi masters, the works were supervised by Moksu "great master"- architect. According to the information of a handwritten memorial collection of 1671 in St. Tovma convent the "beginning of church- repair " is 1671.

From another evidence that informs us Z. Agulistsi we learn that the 1630 repairing works of St. CHristaphor were done by agulisian "Ghogaz worker". In 1670 when Ghogaz dies Z. Agulistsi mentions in his journal, that Ghogaz "built Verin district's church. He did lots of work".

[Source: Agulis -by Argam Aivazian, 1984, Hayastan Press, Yerevan]

"St. Kristapor Church - General View" © 2000 Raffi Kojian, All Rights Reserved

"St. Kristapor Church - Interior Fresco" © 2000 Raffi Kojian, All Rights Reserved