Vahramashen Church

Vahramashen Church of Surp Astvatsatsin
General view of Vahramashen Church and the southern slope of Mount Aragats
Basic information
Location	Southern slope of Mount Aragats, Aragatsotn Province, Armenia
Geographic coordinates	40°23′15″N 44°13′43″E / 40.387492°N 44.228625°E / 40.387492; 44.228625Coordinates: 40°23′15″N 44°13′43″E / 40.387492°N 44.228625°E / 40.387492; 44.228625
Affiliation	Armenian Apostolic Church
Country	Armenia
Architectural description
Architectural type	Cruciform central-plan
Architectural style	Armenian
Completed	1026

The Vahramashen Church (Armenian: Վահրամաշեն եկեղեցի), also commonly referred to as Vahramashen Surp Astvatsatsin or the Church of Amberd) was built for Prince Vahram Pahlavuni of the Pahlavuni family. An inscription on the inside lintel of the north portal to the church dates its completion to the year 1026. It sits along the slopes of Mount Aragats in the Aragatsotn province of Armenia, between the fortress of Amberd and near a wall along the promontory with the Arkashian River in the canyon below.

S. Astvatsatsin is a cruciform type church with four two-story chambers in the corners. A large circular twelve-faceted drum sits on top of the church, with pairs of thin decorative columns standing at the edge of each facet. A conical umbrella type dome rests above. The exterior of the church is simply decorated with edging around the portal and saddles of some small windows, layers of cornice work just above the thin columns on the drum and dome, and some cross relief designs carved into the façades.

Location of Amberd fortress and Vahramashen

Closeup of church

South portal (main entry)

Closeup of cupola

Interior view of the dome

Khachkar

Vahramashen Surp Astvatsatsin during the spring