Mets Astvatsatsin Monastery of Agulis
Location: Yukhari Aylis (Az.) / Agulis (Arm.)
Destruction
Enclosed by a high outer wall, the Mets Astavatsatsin Monastery was a complex of buildings perched on a hillside with a sweeping view of the plain of Agulis. Most of the complex was in ruins when historian Argam Ayvazyan documented the site during his fieldwork in Nakhchivan (1964-1987). The main church of Mets Astvatsatsin still stood, although in dilapidated condition (see plan below). 1
Intact in the 1982 KH-9 Hexagon image in the first swipe below (left), the monastery had been largely demolished by February 25, 2000 (first swipe, right). The 2000 IKONOS image shows only one area of the complex in the north still standing, suggesting destruction of the site was in process at the time of the image. By June 28, 2009, a QuickBird image (second swipe, right) shows that the erasure of the monastery had been completed. Only berms and debris piles testify to the site's history and to its destruction.
Drag the swipe tool right to see the monastery in 1982; drag left to see the site in the process of destruction.
Drag the swipe tool right to see the monastery in 2000 in the process of destruction; drag left to see the site in 2009, destruction complete.
Geolocation
Mets Astvatsatsin Monastery was located on the slope of a hill, approximately 1.5km east of Verin Agulis. 1,2,3 The complex is marked on 1:50K scale Soviet topographic maps of 1936, 1941, and 1977. CHW confirmed the church's precise location using KH-9 Hexagon satellite imagery dated July 29, 1973 and July 12, 1982.
Timeline
Construction
According to local legend, founded by Thaddeus the Apostle in the 1st century; rebuilt in the 12th-13th centuries, then again in the 17th century, and again in the 18th century. 2
1936
The church is marked on the 1:50K scale Soviet topographic map of 1936. 4
1941
The church is marked on the 1:50K scale Soviet topographic map of 1941. 5
1973
The church is visible on KH-9 Hexagon satellite imagery dated July 29, 1973. 6 It is also visible on subsequent 1982 KH-9 Hexagon imagery.
1977
The church is marked on the 1:50K scale Soviet topographic map of 1977. 7
2000
The church was partially destroyed by February 25, 2000. The QuickBird-2 image at right shows the area of the monastery now criss-corssed by earth berms and debris piles from bulldozing at the site. 8
2009
The June 28, 2009 QuickBird image at right shows the completed erasure of the monastery and remaining piles of debris from its destruction. 9
2012
The destruction of the monastery is published by Research on Armenian Architecture using GoogleEarth imagery. 10
2021
The destruction of Mets Astvatsatsin is reported in Simon Maghakyan's special investigation in The Art Newspaper, using satellite imagery provided by CHW.
Image Gallery
Images © Research on Armenian Architecture (far left) and Argam Ayvazyan Archive, used with permission.
References
1 Ayvazyan, Argam. The Historical Monuments of Nakhichevan. Transl. Krikor H. Maksoudian. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1990, p. 22-23.
2 Ayvazyan, Argam. Nakhijevani ISSH haykakan hushardzannery. Hamahavak tsutsak. Yerevan: Hayastan, 1986, p. 30.
3 Ayvazyan, Argam. Agulis: Patmamshakutayin hushardzanner. Yerevan: Hayastan, 1984, p. 24, 45.
4 Upravlenie voennykh topografov RKKA, J-38-44-B (Dasta), 1:50,000, 1936.
5 Generalnyi shtab Krasnoi Armii, J-38-44 (Julfa), 1941.
6 KH-9 Hexagon, D3C1206-100170F021, July 29, 1973.
7 Generalnyi shtab, J-38-44-B (Dasta), 1:50,000, 1977.
8 Maxar Technologies & East View Geospatial, February 25, 2000.
9 Maxar Technologies & East View Geospatial, June 28, 2009.
10 Research on Armenian Architecture, Nakhijevan Atlas. Yerevan: Tigran Metz Publishing House, 2012, p. 32.
