Sisavan, Sisian, Armenia

Sisavan church which is also known as St.Grigor church or St.Hovhannes church is located in Syunik Province of Armenia, north-west from Sisian town. A group of historians believe that the church was built in 663-682 by Syunik prince Kohazat with support of the spiritual leader of the Province Hovsep I and priest Teodoros. But according to Archbishop Stepanos Orbelian who was a chronicler of the princely house of Syunik, Sisavan was erected by princess Varazdoukht in 520-530. As many other Armenian monasteries Sisavan was built on the site of an old pagan temple.

Cross-domed church built of trimmed bluish basalt stones. The church has two entries – from the south and the west. There are side chapels in all the corners. Unlike other similar churches the space under the dome is square. All 4 apses equal sized; there are three windows on each of them. The drum of 12-hedral dome is decorated with semi-columns connected with arches. Images and names of 4 evangelists are carved on tetrahedral cornice of the dome decorated with braided ornament. Images of prince Kohazat, Hovsep I and priest Teodoros with corresponding inscriptions are carved under the dome hemisphere. On the walls one can see different images, inscriptions and signs including petroglyphs (rock engravings) which have nothing in common with the architectural idea of the church. The walls are also decorated with early medieval motives the most remarkable of which is ornament in the form of pomegranate branches.

The facade of the church is adorned with niches in the form of arches. There is a cemetery with typical medieval khachkars (cross-stones) and gravestones on the territory adjacent to the church.

In 1959-1961 the church was overhauled; the adjacent territory was cleaned, and in 1980-1988 – tiled. In the western part there is a pantheon commemorating Sisian people died during the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) war.

Sisavan is a bright example of early Armenian medieval architecture. The church survived through centuries preserving its primordial look without any serious dаmage and change.

By Natalia Ghukasyan, www.building.am