1690? AD - Goghtn Region, Nakhichevan (Azerbaijan)

"St. N'shan Church - General View" © 2000 Raffi Kojian, All Rights Reserved

This complex is known as the Holy Trinity Monastery (S. Yerordutyun) or alternatively as St. Stepanos and St. N'shan (or Amarain) Church

In the northern district of Storin or Dasht Agulis, in the surroundings of ruins of ancient dwelling houses this standing monument is built by a three- nave basilica composition. (gr. 7). Directly adjacent to the southern wall of the latter is built Dasht's other church- St. Trinity. "Amarayin" three- nave basilica's composition consists of a seven- hedral senior vestry and a large praying- hall. In its two sides the senior vestry too has four- hedral vestries, the western fronts of which like the senior vestry are completely open and are directly connected with the praying- hall. The praying- hall of the church is divided into a large and two small naves by three- pairs of strong pillars, the naves of which carry the cover of the construction. By the present appearance the praying-hall of the church from north, south and west by the part higher than half of the construction presents an open vault- ros. The examination of "Amarayin" church' foundation, its architectural composition lets us suppose that this monument's former construction was founded in around IXc. Later on, being repaired in XVIIc, during which was also used brick, it was turned into an open hall- church, where rites were performed during summer. From this the church got its nickname "Amarayin" (adj. summer). Till the 1810's in the hcurch' interior were noticable traces of "resin pitcher, hell, kingdom" and other compositional wall- paintings.

In 1690 in Storin Agulis' churches one Haismavurk's memorial makes clear that with "Amarain" nickname three-nave basilica's name is St. Nshan, and St. Trinity domed church' name is St. Stepanos.

About this Haismavurk's memorial (is now in Frenzo's Sait Trinity Mayr church) evidences, "I common obedient Azaria got Aysmavur... and came to the door of the sacred church, which was turned into three vestries and the others St. Nshan and St. Minas, which are the guards and protectors of my village-town called Dasht... later on, if they build St. Minas church with God's will, if they wish to bear it with murmur, but except this second church...". Then the same memorial evidences that the record "wrote and finished... in Armenian year 1690... in the vilalge called Aguleats Dasht, which was renamed Yerek Khoran (three vestsry), but also St. Nshan church... with thoughtless precepter Yeprem's hands...".

St. Stepanos four-pillar domed church, which is also known by Yerek Khoran or St. Trinity nicknames, is built from trimmed granite and brick. The composition of the monument consists of a five-hedral senior vestry, two sacristies and a praying- hall. In the flat cover of the construction is put the beautiful, brick, eight- hedral dome with a drum. The pillars of the praying- hall are almost round in the cut. It has two entries in western and southern fronts. St. Stepanos church' interior used to be decorated with beautiful wall- paintings, which are now harmed and scratched. To the western front of the church is joint the vestribule- hall, which according to the inscription was built in XVIIc, during the church' rapair. by composition it's a four- pillar vaulted hall, the arches of the walls of which lean on the church' western wall- pillars (now its open fronts are rebuilt). St. Stepanos and "Amarayin" churches and their auxiliary constructions are situated inside a large and high ramparat. As the constructions, so the large part of the ramparat have now turned into ruins. Outside the rampart, around 100-150m towards south-east from it is situated the church- spring, which still works well.

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

"St. N'shan Church" © 2000 Raffi Kojian, All Rights Reserved

"St. N'shan Floorplan" © 2000 Raffi Kojian, All Rights Reserved