St. Astvatsatsin Church, Ulgyur
St. Astvatsatsin church in Ulgyur, dated from the 11th to 14th centuries, is a curiously small building with a starkly rectangular plan. In the vicinity of the church stand two vishaps, ancient pre-Christian cylindrical-shaped stone sculptures that depict mystical dragon and bird-like creatures. Vishaps were often placed near water sources. The two vishaps you see here were later converted into khachkars in 1001 and in 1199.
Momik, the famous architect, sculptor and miniature painter, was born in the village of Ulgyur. The church cemetery contains the tombs of Momik’s parents, his brother, his wife and his two children. From these tombstones and inscriptions uncovered in nearby archaeological sites, experts reconstructed Momik’s family tree.
Khachkars at Ulgyur (Photo by Rick Ney, AMAP Human Development NGO)
Tombstones at Ulgyur (Photo by Rick Ney, AMAP Human Development NGO)
St. Astvatsatsin and surrounding khachkars (Photo by AMAP Human Development NGO)
Historical Attractions