Areni

The village of Areni is in the Vayotz Dzor Marz (region), on the bank of the river Arpa, 12 km to South-west of the town of Eghegnadzor. The Village is famous for its historical monuments and Armenian superb wine. In the nearby caves of the village Areni there were found the world’s most ancient wine-press, the world’s oldest shoe which have almost 6000 years of age. In the Middle Ages Areni became a prosperous borough, due to the fact that was on a busy trading road junction and in the 13th century Ishkhan (Count) Tersayich Orbelyan moved there his seat center from Yeghegis Avan (borough). Nearby the village of Areni, 1 km away to the north-east is located the remains of wide bridge with four arches, which was built by Amaghi Noravank’s Bishop Sargis in the 13th century. In Areni is also located Surb Astvatzatzin Church (St. Mary's Church) one of the masterpieces of Middle ages most famous Armenian architect Momik. According to the record on the western wall of the church, its construction was initiated by Syunik’s Archbishop Hovhannes Orbelyan in 1321. In the Church's interior dominates the ascending dome which leans on two walls and on two separate standing columns. That was not typical of the Armenian churches of that era, and it is considered to be Momik’s innovation. Surb Astvatzatzin (St. Mary) is central dome church. It is notable for its harmonious proportion and is considered to be the masterpiece of architect Momik. Momik had moved to Vayotz Dzor from Cilicia. First he practiced in painting, flourishing handwritings. But Momik’s eyesight failed and his genius was expressed in another field, in architecture. There are eight windows on the church's multi-faceted drum. The tabernacle has a pair of cross-shape windows. Surb Astvatzatzin (St. Mary) has two entrances - western and southern. There are two vestries on the southern side. There is a beautiful fret near the western entrance of the church, where St. Marriam with infant Jesus on her lap is inscribed. Inside the church there is carved symbols of the four Evangelists: angels, winged bull, an eagle and a winged lion. Surb Astvatzatzin’s (St. Mary's) dome was destroyed by an earthquake in 1840. It was reconstructed to original form in 1998. Once there was a cemetery near the church. There still are kept in tombstones, khachkars (stone crosses) of 14-17 century. Once there was also 13th century prominent commander, Ishkhan (Count) Tersayich Orbelyan’s palace, to which time has been even more devastating.