This year Tavush celebrates the 800th anniversary of one of the Medieval Armenian educational centers, Khoranashat Monastery. Khoranashat has been firmly standing on the border for eight centuries; it continues to stand under the unceasing fire of the enemy, testifying to our glorious history, culture, and science.
Khoranashat is located in the northeast of Chinari village, right next to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The Monastery was founded by Monk Vardapet, with the support of Vahramyan kings. The construction finished in 1222.
Khoranashat was one of the largest educational, scientific-cultural, and theological centers of Medieval Armenia. Vardapetaran of Khoranashat was a school with historical studies, with a duration of 7-8 years. History, theology, philosophy, bibliography, musicology, grammar, astrology, calendar studies, natural sciences, and botany were taught at Khoranashat. They also copied manuscripts.
Famous philosopher Vardan Areveltsi, historian Grigor Akneretsi, and catholicos Grigor Akhtamaratsi studied here.
Khoranashat was also a center of writing. Many of the valuable manuscripts written in Khoranashat are kept in Matenadaran, including “The Book of Lamentation”, “Narek”, and “Mashtots” manuscripts. The famous manuscript of “The Gospel” was also created in the Monastery.
Several events will be held in Yerevan, and Chinari, Tavush Region, until May 29 to mark the 800th anniversary of the Monastery.
The events have started at the Matenadarn after Mesrop Mashtots with the opening of the exhibition of “Manuscript Treasures of Khoranashat,” which will run until May 24. The exhibition presents about a dozen unique manuscripts created in Khoranashat starting from the 13th century, including the famous Gospel of Khoranashat of 1224.
The events will continue on May 28 and 29. The “Gospel of Khoranashat” of 1224 will be taken out of Matenadaran, and it will spend one night in Tavush, returning home to the center where it was created. On May 28, at 11 a.m., an episcopal Holy Liturgy will be served in Khoranashat Monastery.
After the Liturgy, the Andastan ceremony will be held with the Holy Cross and the Gospel of Khoranashat in the area close to the community hall. At 7 p.m. Armenian State Chamber Choir (artistic director and chief conductor) will have a concert at the culture house of Chinari.
The events will also continue the next day, on May 29. The presentation of the book album “Khoranashat 800” will take place at the Culture House of Chinari at 11 a.m., which will be followed by a conference dedicated to the 800th anniversary of the scientific and spiritual center. The evening will be summed up again with a concert program, “Akunq” folk song and dance ensemble will perform at 19:00.
“Earlier, Khoranashat was located in the heart of Armenia during its history, has become a frontier Monastery being located only about 100 meters far from the enemy positions. About 150 meters above the Monastery is the tomb of the monk, which is even closer to the border.
May 28 is a significant day for us, as on that day we cannot be anywhere else but in the Monastery on the border of our state, which is not only a spiritual value, not only a carrier of educational and cultural content but also testifies to the border of our state with its physical presence. Because of that, we declared May 28 the day of the pilgrimage to Khoranashat Monastery,” the Primate of the Diocese of Tavush, Bishop Bagrat, mentioned at the press conference dedicated to the 800th-anniversary events.
The events are organized with the support of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Armenia, through the efforts of the “Khoranashat 800” initiative group, and in cooperation with the Tavush Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Matenadaran after Mesrop Mashtots, many other individuals and organizations.
