| 登録区分 | 文化遺産 |
| 登録基準 | (2) |
| 登録年 | 2000年 |
Geghard Monastery is located about 40 km east of the capital city of Yerevan, surrounded by the Azat Valley. Many of the buildings on the site were carved out of the bedrock.Among them, the monastery is considered a masterpiece of medieval Armenian architecture.
Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why Gegard Monastery and the Upper Azat River Valley are World Heritage sites in an easy-to-understand manner. Read this and you will definitely learn more about Geghard Monastery and the Upper Azatho River Basin!
What is Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley?
In the Azat Valley of central Armenia, there are monasteries that were carved out of the bedrock in the 4th-13th centuries. These are also called Ayrivank (cave monasteries) and were built after Christianity was recognized as the state religion in Armenia.The main buildings were completed in the 13th century and include a cathedral, a monastery, a chapel, and a tomb.The site is also dotted with sculptures of the Khachkar (Armenian Holy Cross).
The first rock church was built before the 13th century, and the city walls surrounded the monastery from the 12th to 13th centuries.The gabbit (entrance hall) is covered with stalactite decorations that resemble the ceiling decoration of a mosque.
The word “Geghard” means “spear” and is derived from the fact that a piece of the Holy Lance, which is said to have pierced Jesus Christ, was found in this area. Legend has it that this was carried by Jude, one of the Twelve Apostles who was a disciple of Jesus, and hidden in this place, and the spear has been preserved here as a holy relic. The monastery was not only a sacred place in Armenia, but also a cultural center, where schools and libraries were established.It is also believed to have contributed to the development of manuscripts.
For what reason is Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley on the World Heritage List?
The Geghard Monastery and the upper Azat Valley were evaluated for the following points.
Registration Criteria (ii)
The Geghard Monastery is a masterpiece of medieval Armenian monastic architecture in that it greatly influenced subsequent church architecture.
Conclusions and Impressions of a World Heritage Maniac
Anyway, it is amazing that they were able to build such a large monastery by carving out the bedrock. This technical skill is valued in that it had a great influence on subsequent church architecture.
Incidentally, the Holy Lance, also known as the “Lance of Longinus,” is familiar from certain robot cartoons, the most famous of which is from the Holy Roman Empire, and this is located in the Hofburg Palace in Vienna. The spear has been in the hands of the Holy Roman Emperor, Hitler, and other powerful men of the time.
*The content here is a discussion derived from research by World Heritage enthusiasts. As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the media.
