Gladzor Monastery

Gladzor (Tanahat, Tanade) monastery is located in the Vayots Dzor Marz (region), 7 km far from the village of Vernashen. The first records in historical sources about the monastery refer to the 8th century. The church of St. Stephanos was built and consecrated under the auspices of the counts of the genus Proshyan, in 1279. The counts Proshyan left carved the emblem of their count family (an eagle squeezing a lamb in its claws) on the southern wall of the monastery. There are also numerous bas-relief sculptures portraying different animals. The sundial, at the top of which there is an image of two peacocks drinking water from a bowl, is noteworthy. The church of St. Stephanos is a cross-shaped domed construction. It got the cruciform shape due to the vestries in the four corners, two of which are double-storey. St. Nshan (St. Sign) church is situated to the north from St. Stepanos church. It was also constructed in the 13th century. The entrance to the church is crowned with a high relief depicting a hunting scene. There is located a medieval cemetery in the territory of the monastery. There are situated khachkars (cross stone) and gravestones. Gladzor, the most famous University of medieval Armenia, was founded by Nerses Mshetsi in the territory of Tanade Monastery, in 1291. It is supposed to be one of the largest medieval Universities of the world. It was called "The Second Athens", "Philosophical Capital" "The Most Famous University" by the contemporaries. Here the students were taught not only spiritual and secular knowledge, but also arts. A school of painting under the University was functioning there. There functioned three auditoriums at the university: the ecclesiastical and secular auditorium, the ancient manuscripts rewriting art auditorium, the music and khaz knowledge (khaz is an ancient Armenian musical notation) auditorium. Famous medieval spiritual, cultural and scientific figures, whose works received worldwide significance, studied at the Gladzor University.