Aghperig Monastery
| Aghperig Monastery | |
|---|---|
St. Thaddeus, Gregory the Illuminator | |
| Groundbreaking | c300 (original building; traditional date) |
| Completed | c300 (original building; traditional date) |
Aghperig monastery (variously Aghperga, St. Aghprig Monastery (Աղբերկայ or Ս. Աղբերիկ Վանք)), also known as Beyaz Kilise, is a medieval
History
According to the 1902 Eprigian (or Eprikian) encyclopaedia, its origins are in early Armenian Christianity, from around the 4th century.
"According to tradition the main church of this monastery was built by the Apostle
St. Thaddeus. The adjacent second church was built by Gregory the Illuminator [cir. 300]. There is a spring beneath the church which appears a short distance away from the monastery, hence the name of the monastery, Sourp Aghprig [Holy Spring]. We saw this spring as we approached the monastery."[1]
During the
"A woman by the name of Rahan, formerly of Dalorig, now staying at Havodoric, said, 'Our family numbered twelve, of whom five were killed. My husband, brother, and his son were hacked in pieces, my husband received a terrible wound and is now at St. Aghperig monastery."’[2]
The monastic community left the site around the time of the 1915 Armenian genocide and the buildings have since been unoccupied and slowly becoming ruins. Many local people believed that Armenians were wealthy and hid gold beneath the ground when they left. For this reason, there are many pits dug around the site.[3]
The
The 2016 documentary film 100 Years Later, about the work of Gomidas Institute founder and historian Ara Sarafian, records this trip to the monastery.[5]
Gallery
External links
References
- ^ Eprigian/Eprikian, H.S. (1902). Armenian Encyclopaedia.
- ^ Wishard, John G. (1908). Twenty years in Persia: a narrative of life under the last three shahs. F. H. Revell company. p. 64.
- ^ a b "In Eastern Turkey, Walking in the Shadow of Genocide · Global Voices". Global Voices. 2015-04-30. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
- ^ "Armenian Church News, Vol 2, issue 26" (PDF). Armenian Church News. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- ^ Lubbock, John (2016-03-22), 100 Years Later, retrieved 2017-03-11
