Arkaz Monastery (Panorama by 360° Stories)
Arkaz Monastery (Holy Cross Church)
The Armenian clergyman and historian Stepanos Orbelian mentioned Arkaz in his writings, dating the site to the 8th century. The church within the complex is called Holy Cross (Surb Khach) and a tomb in the church is rumored to contain a piece of the True Cross, which was buried with an early medieval queen in one of the vestries. Local lore claims that during reconstruction of the church in 2011, the face of Jesus appeared above this tomb. Afterwards, church proprietors placed a tapestry of Jesus’s face on the wall below.
The church was first reconstructed in 1871 and later in 2010-2011. A local resident, born in a nearby village and now living in Moscow, sponsored the most recent reconstructions. Many Armenian emigrants donate money towards local churches, schools and community centers as a means to give back to and maintain roots in their villages. Directly across from the church is a newly renovated monastery. The building to the right of the church has early-medieval khachkars embedded into the fabric of the exterior walls.
Historical Attractions
The Orbelians
The princely House of Orbelians was established in 1211 after an Armenian-Georgian army liberated Syunik from neighboring foes (modern-day Syunik, south of Vayots Dzor, differs from historic Syunik which included parts of Vayots Dzor and other present-day Armenian regions). The Orbelian reign began an educational, cultural and architectural revival in Syunik. Orbelian nobility had close ties with
the See of Syunik, one of the most influential Patriarchal Sees of the Armenian Church at the time. A byproduct of this successful merger can be seen in the role of Stepanos Orbelian. As the Metropolitan of Syunik (1286-1303), as well as a clergyman, theologian, historian and poet, Stepanos wrote the complete history of Syunik
among other literary works. The Orbelian principality lost substantial
power in the early part of the 15th century, never again retaining the glorious authority of the previous centuries.