Saint Karapet Monastery

Saint Karapet Monastery Սուրբ Կարապետ Վանք
Church of Surb Karapet from South-West in 1893
Shown within Turkey
Basic information
Location	35 km NW of Muş, Muş Province, Turkey
Geographic coordinates	38°57′40″N 41°11′30″E / 38.961068°N 41.191697°E / 38.961068; 41.191697Coordinates: 38°57′40″N 41°11′30″E / 38.961068°N 41.191697°E / 38.961068; 41.191697
Affiliation	Armenian Apostolic Church
Status	destroyed by the Turkish army in 1915[citation needed]
Architectural description
Architectural style	Armenian
Completed	4th - 19th century
Specifications
Dome(s)	2

The Saint Karapet Monastery (Armenian: Սուրբ Յովհաննէս Կարապետ Վանք, or Surb Hovhannes Karapet Vank, meaning Monastery of Saint John the Baptist; also known as Glakavank or Monastery of Glak, and Turkish: Çanli kilise^[1]) was an Armenian monastic complex in the Taron Province of Greater Armenia, about 35 kilometers northwest of Mush, now in the Kurdish village of Chengeli in eastern Turkey. Founded in the fourth century by Saint Gregory the Illuminator, it was one of the oldest monasteries in Armenia.^[2] The monastery was a stronghold of the Mamikonians (the princely house of Taron) who were the holy warriors of Saint Yovhannes Karapet^[3] (John the Baptist), their patron saint.^[4]

Saint Karapet Monastery was also one of the three most important sites for Armenian Christian pilgrimage, and among the richest, most ancient institutions in Ottoman Armenia, until it was destroyed to its foundations by Turks after the Armenian Genocide.

Location

The monastery was located on the northern border range of the Mush plain, at an elevation of 6,400 feet, or of 2,200 feet above the trough of the plain.^[5]

Etymology

Surb (Armenian: Սուրբ) means Holy and Karapet (Armenian: Կարապետ) means Precursor, which stands for John the Baptist in the Armenian language.

History

Foundation

The monastery of Surb Karapet was founded by Gregory the Illuminator, who reportedly came to Taron to spread Christianity in the area, soon after his famous conversion of King Trdat III.^[2] At that time, on the site of the cloister were two heathen temples that were an object of special reverence by a colony of Hindu refugees, who were under the sovereignty of the Armenian kings. They worshipped two colossal brass idols known by the names Demeter and Kisane.^[2] The Hindu warriors and their Armenian allies were defeated in two successive battles by the army of Gregory the Illuminator, and their sanctuaries were razed to the ground.^[2] In its place Gregory the Illuminator erected a Christian church, and the body of Saint John the Baptist, which was moved from Caesarea, took the place of Demeter and Kisane.^[2]

Middle ages

In the Middle Ages, the monastery Surb Karapet was not only one of the most revered places of the Armenians, but also a rich agricultural center of the region. It also possessed an extensive library, and was one of the centers of education.

Modern period

In the second half of the 19th century, when the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire struggled for independence, the monastery published the "Eagle of Taron" newspaper by Khrimyan Hayrik, the future Catholicos of all Armenians.

In the book "The Call of plowmen", Khachik Dashtents describes a winter scene in the monastery.

On November 29, 1893, H. F. B. Lynch visited Surb Karapet Monastery and later wrote an account of it (along with photographs) in his book Armenia: Travels and Studies first published in 1901.^[5]

Revered by both Armenians and Zazas, the monastery was renown for its ability to heal the mentally ill.^[6]

Current state

At present nothing remains of the former wealth and livelihood of the monastery. After the extermination and expulsion of the Armenians in the Armenian Genocide, Surb Karapet ceased to exist not only as a spiritual center, but also as an architectural monument. The monastery was blown up by the Turkish army as part of successive Turkish governments' policy of cultural genocide of the Armenian historical monuments in Turkey.

Today what remains of Surb Karapet consists of a few shapeless ruins and carved stones and khachkars which have been used as building materials by the current Muslim residents, mostly Kurds, and are often found encrusted in the walls of local homes and structures.

Complex

Fortress of the Surb Karapet Monastery, c. 1915

As shown in the photos of H. F. B. Lynch from the beginning of twentieth century and published in the book "Armenia. Travel Essays and Studies", the monastery was surrounded by strong walls and was similar to a fortress. On the eastern side of the main cathedral of the monastery were two chapels with polygonal towers and conical roofs, probably more ancient than the main church. The latest construction in the architectural ensemble was the portal to the elegant bell tower, a basis to the origin of the Turkish name of the monastery, "Chanly" (meaning "with a bell tower").

Besides the Church of St. Karapet, the monastery also contained within its walls the martyrium of St. John the Baptist, the chapel of St. Georg, the chapel of St. Stepanos and the church of St. Astvatsatsin. This magnificent example of Armenian architecture has been destroyed to its foundations during the last century.

According to Thierry, the martyrium of the Holy Precursor was probably at first a hall-shaped building with archaic-style cupola, but was later much altered.^[1]

Burials

The bloody wars fought by the Mamikonians (Taron's princely house) against the Sassanians are recalled by the tombs of Mushegh, of Vahan the Wolf and of Sembat. Near the southern wall reposed the remains of Vahan Kamsarakan.^[7]

Gallery

• Historical photos
• 

  Closeup, circa 1915

• 

  The two chapels (by H. F. B. Lynch, 1893)

• 

  Monastery of Surb Karapet from the south (1893)

• 

  View south of the Mush Plain from the terrace (1893)

See also

• Taron Province of historic Armenia

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Thierry, p. 175.^{Theirry 1989}
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Lynch, p. 178.^{Lynch 1901}
3. ^ Mamikonean, John (1985), "Part 4", in Robert Bedrosian, History of Taron, New York, http://rbedrosian.com/jm5.htm, "And he cried out to St. Karapet: 'Oh Yovhannes Karapet, baptizer of Christ, the hour has come. Where are the prayers of my holy clerics?'" 
4. ^ Mamikonean, John (1985), "Translator's Preface", in Robert Bedrosian, History of Taron, New York, http://rbedrosian.com/jm1.htm 
5. ^ ^{a b} Lynch, pp 174-176.^{Lynch 1901}
6. ^ The Yezidi Pantheon, Garnik Asatrian and Victoria Arakelova, Iran & the Caucasus, Vol. 8, No. 2, 2004:238.
7. ^ Lynch, p. 179.^{Lynch 1901}

Bibliography

• Hewsen, Robert H. (2001), Armenia: A Historical Atlas (1st ed.), Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, p. 206, ISBN 0-226-33228-4, http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/332284.html  (Floorplan and history)
• ^ Lynch, H F B (1901). Armenia, travels and studies. Volume II: The Turkish Provinces. London: Longmans, Green, and Co. OCLC 744928. 
• ^ Thierry, Jean-Michel (1989) Armenian Art.  New York: Harry N. Abrams.  ISBN 0-8109-0625-2 

External links

• Монастырь Сурб Карапет близ Муша. (Russian) (includes historical and recent photos)
• Photos of Saint Karapet Monastery from before 1950, in the 1970s, and in 2000 by Research on Armenian Architecture
• Photos of Saint Karapet Monastery at the Rensselear Digital Collections
• Program about St Karapet Monastery in Mush by Vem Radio