XVII - XVIII? AD - Goghtn Region, Nakhichevan (Azerbaijan)

"Sh'mavon Church - 1930" © 2000 Raffi Kojian, All Rights Reserved

This large and beautiful church of Agulis is built in around 500m towards south-west from St. Christaphor, in the high- fixed flat place on the right bank of the river and is surrounded with numerous dwelling constructions. Unfortunately, from this, on the brim of collapse monument remain only a part of the church' senior vestry and its two front pillars. (p. 37).

St. Shmavon (p36) built by a four-pillar domed basilica composition (graph 3) was a standing monument till 1930's. This large church according to Sisoev's description, had three entries, in front of wich had been XVII- XVIIIcc around 20 lythographed gravestones. In the church interior the vaults had been decorated with wall-paintings of natural motives, and on the dome's drum had been pictured 4 wing-stretched angels. The height of the church from inside is 8m. The dome with 12 windows too was of that height. In the church-walls had been put number of XVII- XVIIIcc inscribed khachkars.

This medieval- period church, like the other monuments of Agulis was repaired in XVIIc. St. Shmavon was also a writing- hearth, from the handwritings of which unfrotunately almost nothing has got to us. One of the handwrigings that got to us was written in 1638, and the other one "the sacred book" arranged Pavghos nad Yesayi, with Margaray's hand, in village-town Aguleats in St. Shmavon church, in Armenian year 1640...".

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

"Sh'mavon - today" © 2000 Raffi Kojian, All Rights Reserved

"Sh'mavon Floorplan" © 2000 Raffi Kojian, All Rights Reserved