Tsakhats Kar

Tsakhats Kar is also known as the desert of Holy Mother, St. Grigor Areguni, St. Karapet and Ghoshavank. The monastery is located in Vayots Dzor Marz (region), 6 km to the north-east from the village of Yeghegis and was built in the 10th century, by a certain Bishop Stepanos. At one time, it was a famous cultural center. The monastic complex consists of the churches St. Hovhannes (989), St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother), St. Karapet and the narthex (gavit). In general, the complex consists of two parts - group of monuments in the eastern part and the western part. The church of St. Karapet has preserved in a relatively better way. This is a church with a cross dome and vestries in four corners. There was a sculpture of an eagle with outstretched wings, holding a sheep in its talons in the upper left corner of the main entrance. There is a sculpture, representing a combat of a lion and a bull at the top of the northern facade. It is the largest sculpture in Armenia by its size. The second building of this group is a two-storey mausoleum-church. The first floor of this building consists of a vaulted small church and the square narthex (gavit) located in the western part. The chapel, which is built on the narthex, and the khachkars (cross-stones), located in its two sides, compile the second floor of the building. The monastic complex Tsakhats Kar accents on the rich historical and geographical image of Vayots Dzor emphasizes nature by its peculiar appearance and the ancient construction. A poet, who visited Tsakhats Kar in the middle of the last century, described it as: "A proud and silent eagle that sat on the rocks and keep watching over the peace of the Vayk country."