Armenia, a unique country in the world

Armenian Miniature in Tatev

About a century ago, Armenian illuminated manuscripts attracted the attention of scholars and lovers of art. Since that time intensive studies of medieval Armenian art have been conducted. A unique historical panorama of the art of illumination in Armenia, embracing more than thirteen centuries has been given (the first surviving miniatures date from the VI-VII centuries, while the latest ones were created in the XIX century). The heritage of a number of miniature schools and their outstanding representatives has been studied; the significance of medieval Armenian paining in the history of world art has been revealed.Among the best examples of medieval Armenian illumination are those of the following two manuscripts: codex 7482 1 and 6305 2 of the Mashtots Matenadaran, Grigor Tatevatsi and Anonymous painter of Syunik having participated in their creation. The above-mentioned manuscripts have been created in Syunik, one of the largest regions in historical Armenia. Its eastern frontiers stretched to Artsakh; in the west, to Ayrarat and Vaspurakan; in the north, to Utik and Gugark, and in the south, to the Arax River. The significance of Syunik in respect to the spiritual treasures created there during various periods was not always on the same level. As regards the variety and significance of cultural values whose origin depends upon the general political and socio-economic situation of the country, the most interesting is the post-Arabic period (X-XI cc), which coincides with the rise and flourishing of the Syunik kingdom. Liberation from the Arab yoke and the political independence attained by number of Armenian feudal lords brought about long years of peace and favored the economic and cultural revival of the country. The monastery of Tatev became the center of this new life in the country. In the middle of the XIII century The orbelyans and the Proshyans managed tp improve their position in Syunik, secure privileges ans ensure peace in that region for some decades. While wave of migration swept over the various regions of Armenia, it was quite the contrary in Syunik. Refugees from other regions, robbed and plundered, moved to Syunik in the hope of safety.All that, in turn, created favorable conditions for the development of culture. During the XIII-XIV centuries, the creative activities of many skilled architects, sculptors, talented poets and painters, close to the Orbelyans and Proshyans, unfolded in the cultural centers of Syunik. That was the time when the remarkable Ayrivank with rock-cut churches, the Church of Stitakavor and Noravank were erected. Unprecedented development was noted in the art of relief decorations of secular and lay constructions with great diversity and beauty. New schools were opened. Among them the University of Gladzor was, which became the outstanding center of higher education for all Armenia. The universities of Tatev, Aprakounis and Hermon, which at the same time became well-known centers of manuscript writing and miniature painting, followed it. The origin and the initial period of blossoming of the Tatev center of science dated from the X-Xi centuries. Much valuable information on teaching at the University, the subjects taught at the various departments During Grigor Tatevatsis time, have been preserved. "… There were three departments in the monasteryof Tatev: at one of them a former singer taught religious music of such sweet-sounding melodies that pupils came to him from other towns, from all parts of the country. At the second, drawing and reproductions of scenes were taught, and at the third, religious books and scientific books of Antiquity were Studied, translated and interpreted…"Accepting this chronological evidence that a department of fine arts functioned at Tatev University, we may suppose that a considerable number of illuminated manuscripts were created there in the XIV-XV centuries and quite probably, Tatev had its own school of miniature painting. Unfortunately, it is impossible, at present, to give a complete picture of that school, as only very few of those manuscripts have survived. (The Matenadaran has codices 5303, 7482, 4019, 3104, 3955, 4164 and others.) Only three (5303, 4019, 7482) of those mentioned have sufficient material for research. The rest have only title pages and marginal illustrations. It may safety be said that the creative work at Tatev in the XIV-XV centuries was not free from the Gladzor influence, and furthermore, specific features of the art of Grigor Tatevatsy, headmaster of the University, were characteristic of most of the manuscripts illuminated at Tatev. Such qualities as monumentalize, expressive images, thickly satiated use of reds, blues, violets, profusion of ornaments, continued to exist till the XVI- XVII centuries in those miniature painting centers connected with Tatev.

Armenian Miniature, compiled by Alvida Mirzoyan,Yerevan, 1987, pp. 5–7.

Tatev monastery Floor Plan

1. St. Peter and Paul chuech

2. St. Illuminator church

3. A valuated gallery

4. Bell tower

5. Gavazan swinging pillar

6. Father Superior's chambers

7. The refectiory

8. St. Virgin church

9. Ancient enterance

10. Residentital service premises

11. A spring

12. Creamery

The monuments in the surrounding of Tatev

Tatev St. Minas Church, in the XVII century

St. Gavazan (Column), in 906

St. Virgin Church, in the XI century

The desert on the bank of Vorotan, XVII century

St. Paul and Peter church, in 906

Tatev Famous Monastery, in 895-906

"Devil Bridge" and mineral springs in Tatev

1. "Warm Water: - "Devil Bridge", one of the Armenia's natural marvels is on the Vorotan River. It is a non-handiwork natural roof which hangs over the crazy flow 200 meters long and 150 meters wide. The bridge is made of limestone and stalagmite and has a level surface, warm mineral springs flow out in its separate halls with bubbles. Two abrupt sides of the defile is also made of stalagmite, which hang on the edges of the bridge, with 250-300 meters height rampart from two sides of yellow-redden rocky shore. The cliffs are so close, that they are only 180-20 meters wide. The bridge height from the surface of the river is 1000 meters. The heaped stalagmite columns, the huge stalactites, hang over the river and have a yellow color, but little by little they are starting to green from the foamy water. The stalactites are result of Calcium carbonate and other carbonates dissolved in the mineral water which enters into the river from the cliff. There are other mineral springs in and around "Devil Bridge" area. And the water quantity is daily 500-600 thousands liters. The water temperature is 25 degrees celcius. About the mineral springs in "Devil Bridge" professor A.A. Florensky wrote: " Devil Bridge" springs are natural marvel, which impress with their appropriation and beauty. Over centuries a deposit gathers from the mineral water and two strong banks of an abyss canyon are joined with each other and a noisy Vorotan River is pouring through them. In early times local population couldn't explain the geologic processes considering them the Devil's handiwork, and the bridge as "Devil Bridge". Over centuries people have used the water for treatment of many sicknesses, especially rheumatic. A health resort was built near the mineral water in 1972, which is now a military rest home.There are the following mineral springs in village surround.

2. Quos (scabies) spring on the bank of Vorotan River

3. Mineral water on the bank of Aghandzu River.

4. Mineral water on the bank of Urtuxan River

5. Mineral water on the bank of Zkrvar River"

B. Harutyunyan

An article from the "Armenian nature" journal in 1974, authorized by G. Aghajanyan and G. Karapetyan.

11 mineral springs are registries in Tatev by the geologists. Their watercourse is 11.5 liters per a second. So 993 thousands liters mineral water might be taken per a day.A. Karapetyan studied the effective influence of the water on different sicknesses, and guaranteed for the treatment of number of heart disease. Besides mineral water, Tatev attracts attention to its moderate and mild climate. Air is fresh and rich of ultraviolet rays, sunshine rays, the sunshine reaches 2.150 hours per a year. The fall reaches to 600-660 millimeters, and the winds are insignificant. Tatev is rich of green-flower fields, S, Tatev owing to its are mineral water, mild climate is worth for a special attention, in order to organize healthy-complex hospitals. Those healthy-complexes might be useful for Zangezur population, especially Kapan and Qajaran workers, whose work-conditions are appropriate. Counting the quantity of Tatev mineral water, we suggest to organize healthy-complex as follows: to have 200 health-resort beds, and till 2000 it would increase to 500 ones. So the minimal number of population might be satisfied.For the right decision of the profile of health-resort it is necessary to do clinical investigations.

Translated by Lusine Harutyunyanproof-read by Charlie Ihrke (Peace Corp volunteer)

Armenia, a unique country in the world