St. Stepanos Monastery (Tivi) Explained

St. Stepanos Monastery
Other Name:St. Stepanos Monastery of Navush
Native Name:Սուրբ Ստեփանոս անապատ
Native Name Lang:Armenian
Country:Azerbaijan
Location:Tivi
Denomination:Armenian Apostolic Church
Founded Date:11–12th centuries
Status:Destroyed
Demolished Date:1997–2006

St. Stepanos Monastery was an Armenian monastery located near Tivi village (Ordubad district) of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan.[1] The monastery was located some 2 km south of Tivi village,[1] on high ground in the abandoned village of Navush.[2]

History

The monastery was founded in the 11–12th centuries, its apse contains 15th century cross-stones (khachkars). An Armenian inscription on the tympanum attests that the church was renovated in 1677.[3] [4]

Architecture

In Armenian manuscripts, St. Stepanos is referred as both a hermitage and a monastery. One of the first mentions of St. Stepanos is in a colophon of a gospel that was copied in 1489 and restored in the monastery. The monastery was a basilica with gabled roof and had a nave and two aisles. In the apse and two vestries were secret chambers.

Destruction

The monastery was razed to ground at some point between 1997 and June 15, 2006, as documented by investigation of the Caucasus Heritage Watch.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Khatchadourian, Lori . Silent Erasure: A Satellite Investigation of the Destruction of Armenian Heritage in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan . Smith . Adam T. . Ghulyan . Husik . Lindsay . Ian . Ithaca, NY . 2022 . Cornell Institute of Archaeology and Material Studies . 172–175 . en . https://web.archive.org/web/20220924101952/https://indd.adobe.com/view/publication/2a6c8a55-75b0-4c78-8932-dc798a9012fb/58x9/publication-web-resources/pdf/CHWNakhichevanReportFull.pdf . 24 September 2022 . live.
  2. Ayvazyan, Argam. Nakhijevani ISSH haykakan hushardzannery. Hamahavak tsutsak. Yerevan: Hayastan, 1986, p. 61.
  3. Research on Armenian Architecture, Nakhijevan: Atlas. Yerevan: Tigran Metz Publishing House, 2012.
  4. Ayvazyan, Argam, The Historical Monuments of Nakhichevan. Transl. Krikor H. Maksoudian. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1990, pp. 39–40.