Gharghavank

Gharghavank
The ruins of Gharghavank on the hillside.
Shown within Armenia
Basic information
Location	Zoravan, Kotayk Province,  Armenia
Geographic coordinates	40°21′25″N 44°31′23″E / 40.3569°N 44.5231°E / 40.3569; 44.5231Coordinates: 40°21′25″N 44°31′23″E / 40.3569°N 44.5231°E / 40.3569; 44.5231
Affiliation	Armenian Apostolic Church
Architectural description
Architectural type	Central-plan aisled tetra-conch (Circular)
Architectural style	Armenian
Completed	Between 661 and 685
Dome(s)	1 cupola (collapsed)

Gharghavank (also, Zoravor Church, Armenian: Զորավոր եկեղեցի) is located on the outskirts of the village of Zoravan on the lower slopes of Mount Ara in the Kotayk Province of Armenia. To get to the church, turn left immediately after the small cemetery before reaching the village and go up the dirt road that follows closely next to the cemetery grounds. At the fork, keep following left up past the cemetery along a poorly maintained dirt road. After traveling some distance, the church will be perched upon the hillside to the right. Gharghavank may actually be seen from the main highway in the distance, but is hardly distinguishable from the other ruins of more modern structures scattered nearby. A short walk up the hill leads to the church and an ancient cemetery a little further up the hill.

According to the Armenian historian Vardan Areveltsi of the 13th century, Gharghavank was built between the years 661 and 685 by Prince Grigor Mamikonian. The church is a centrally-planned aisled tetraconch type with eight semicircular apses radiating from the interior octagonal space. Exteriors of the eight apse walls alternate with eight rectilinear panels containing wide triangular niches which divide each of the apses. The thick apse walls and pendentives supported a drum and cupola above. Most of the drum and the cupola have since collapsed. Fragments of the geometric decoration may be seen around the premises.

There are two portals that lead into the structure. On the semi-circular lintel of one, is carved a cruciform khachkar design. In the corners of the triangular niches on the exterior, are columnar decorations. Other designs may be seen around the saddles above the windows, the eaves and cornices, and decorative features that were once around the portals. Foliage relief may be seen around the windows, while geometric relief is along the eaves and cornices. There are also traces of painted relief on the interior of the church. Decorative relief found on the church resembles that at the 7th century Church of Zvartnots at Etchmiadzin.