Areni Church

Surb Astvatsatsin Church of Areni Արենիի Սուրբ Աստուածածին եկեղեցի
S. Astvatsatsin Church at Areni (southern and western façades)
Religion
Affiliation	Armenian Apostolic Church
Region	Caucasus
Location
Location	Areni, Vayots Dzor Province,  Armenia
Shown within Armenia Show map of Armenia Areni Church (Vayots Dzor) Show map of Vayots Dzor
Geographic coordinates	39°43′27″N 45°11′22″E / 39.72406°N 45.189491°E / 39.72406; 45.189491
Architecture
Architect(s)	Momik Vardpet
Type	Armenian; Church
Style	Domed-hall; single-nave two-aisles
Groundbreaking	Late 13th-early 14th century
Completed	1321
Dome(s)	1

Surb Astvatsatsin of Areni (

Virgin Mary is carved upon the tympanum in high-relief above the lintel of

the west portal. This carving and many others that may be found on the church are considered to be masterpieces of artwork done by Momik Vardpet, who according to inscriptions was also the architect for the church. He is best known for his high-relief carvings at the monastery of Noravank

In the center of the church interior, arched pendentives support the drum and dome above. High-relief carvings of mythical creatures adorn each of the four stone panels between the pendentives and base of the drum. Small vertical windows around the drum as well as small windows at each of the four façades let light into the main floor below. A semi-circular apse is located at the eastern wall of the structure and small "studies" or prayer rooms are adjacent on either side. The arched window above the apse is divided by a single column for decorative and structural purposes.

Some interesting tombstones and

• 
  Location of the Areni Church and Noravank.
• 
  Areni S. Astvatsatsin Church as seen from town during the 2014 Areni Wine Festival.
• 
  View of the Church with graveyard and khachkars in front.
• 
  Church drum with a conical umbrella type dome.
• 
  Western portal with a decorative tympanum.
• 
  Southern façade and portal to the church.
• 
  High-relief decoration of a face upon the upper portion of the western façade.
• 
  Khachkar adjacent to the western end of the church.
• 
  Decorative tombstone depicting a bishop near the southern façade the church.
• 
  Decorative tombstone depicting a hunting scene adjacent to the western façade of the church.

See also

• Noravank monastery
  , located southeast of Areni Church.

Bibliography

• Kiesling, Brady (June 2000). Rediscovering Armenia: An Archaeological/Touristic Gazetteer and Map Set for the Historical Monuments of Armenia (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 November 2021.
• Kiesling, Brady (2005), Rediscovering Armenia: Guide,
  Yerevan, Armenia
  : Matit Graphic Design Studio

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Areni Church.

• Armeniapedia.org: Areni Church
• Armenica.org: Church of Holy Virgin in Areni
• About Areni Church Archived 2020-11-21 at the Wayback Machine