St. Stepanos or Karmir Monastery of Astapat
Location: Nehram (Az.) / Astapat (Arm.)
Destruction
Of the many medieval churches and monasteries in Astapat, only St. Stepanos or Karmir Monastery was still standing when historian Argam Ayvazyan surveyed the town during his fieldwork in Nakhchivan (1964-1987). At that time, the dome, upper sections of walls, southwestern section of the roof, porch wall, and several associated structures had collapsed. Perched atop a rocky hill, the domed structure had a five-sided apse, two vestries, and a hall (see plan below). A lower level beneath the bema stored manuscripts and relics. Wall paintings and Armenian inscriptions decorated the interior, while on the doorway's exterior, two khachkars were set into the walls (one dated 977) and reliefs adorned the tympanum. 1,2,3
Clearly visible in KH-9 Hexagon satellite imagery from July 29, 1973 (swipe below, left) and March 29, 1978, the monastery had been demolished by August 26, 2003, according to the QuickBird-2 image in the swipe below (right). Scouring of the terrain indicate recent earthmoving at the site.
Drag the swipe tool right to see the monastery in 1973; drag left to see the site in 2003 after the monastery's destruction.
Geolocation
Situated on a rocky hill with an elevation of 60m, St. Stepanos Monastery was located near Astapat village. 1 The monastery's location is marked on Soviet topographic maps of 1933 (1:42K scale), 1940 (1:50K scale), and 1941 (1:100K scale). CHW confirmed the monastery's precise location using KH-9 Hexagon satellite imagery dated July 29, 1973.
Timeline
Construction
Founded in the 7th century, according to literary sources; mentioned in an encyclical of Catholicos Khachik I in 976; renovated in the 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th (twice), 18th, and 19th centuries. 1,2,3
1933
The monastery is marked on the 1:42K scale Soviet topographic map of 1933. 4
1940
The monastery is marked on the 1:50K scale Soviet topographic map of 1940. 5
1941
The monastery is marked on the 1:100K scale Soviet topographic map of 1941. 6
1973
The monastery is visible on KH-9 Hexagon satellite imagery dated July 29, 1973. 7
2003
The monastery was destroyed by August 26, 2003, when the QuickBird-2 satellite captured the image at right. Scars visible on the site testify to relatively recent large-scale earthmoving. 8
Image Gallery
Images © Argam Ayvazyan Archive, used with permission.
References
1 Ayvazian, Argam. The Historical Monuments of Nakhichevan. Transl. Krikor H. Maksoudian. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1990, p. 92-94.
2 Ayvazyan, Argam. Nakhijevani ISSH haykakan hushardzannery. Hamahavak tsutsak. Yerevan: Hayastan, 1986, p. 111;
3 Ayvazyan, Argam., Nakhijevani kotvoghayin hushardzannern u patkerakandaknery․ Yerevan: Hayastan. 1987, p. 88.
4 Upravlenie voennykh topografov, XL-XLI-37 (Tazakend), 1:42,000, 1933.
5 Generalnyi shtab RKKA, J-38-31-G (Negram), 1:50,000, 1940.
6 Generalnyi Shtab Krasnoi Armii, J-38-31 (Nakhichevan), 1:100,000, 1941.
7 KH-9 Hexagon, D3C1206-100170A021, July 29, 1973.
8 Maxar Technologies & East View Geospatial August 26, 2006.
