Vankasar Church
Vankasar is a huge triangular limestone mountain, on the top of which is the central domed church built in the 7th century. At one of its foothills is Tigranakert, and on the opposite edge are the early Christian rock-carved complex and the rock-carved canal. The church is located on the peak of Mount Vankasar, 290 meters above the plain (Figs. 1, 2). Among the monuments in the immediate vicinity of Tigranakert, it is the only standing monument, albeit in a reconstructed condition.
The church of Vankasar belongs to the small cruciform churches with a central dome and triple apse, widely spread in Armenia in the 7th century (Fig. 3). It bears a striking resemblance to the small churches of Talin, Karashamb, and Aylaber in its volume-spatial design (Fig. 4). The domed square forming the base of the composition is enclosed by rectangular transept on the west and semi-circular transepts on the other sides, which appear rectangular from the outside. The east-west axis of this composition layout is 10.5 meters long, and the north-south axis is 9.15 meters, as a result of which the western cross-wing has been extended by 1.0 meters (9.7×8.7 meters).
Entrances are located in the three transepts (except the eastern one) (Fig. 5), where windows are also inserted. All entrance openings are equal in size. The presence of entrances in three transepts is the main feature of Vankasar Church among the monuments of its type.
All the stones of the church bear the marks of the craftsmen (Fig. 6), most of which are Armenian letters, identical to the marks of the 7th-century church of Sisian (Syunik region, Armenia).
The church of Vankasar underwent significant alterations during a restoration project in the 1980s, which aimed to replicate “Azerbaijani” style. The natural environment and the landscape surrounding the monument were disturbed, and inappropriate development of the spiritual and cultural environment was carried out around them. The area has been developed with buildings that serve entertainment and leisure purposes. The church was “restored” without consideration for its original structural and symmetrical features. As a result, a tent-shaped volume was created, diverging from the original design (Fig. 7). The cornices were not lined up on the facades, and the cross sculpture of the lintel at the western entrance was destroyed. Additionally, the window openings were redesigned, and the methods of implementing constructive elements such as squinches, pendentives, vaults, and domes were altered. Probably, there was a porch on the west front, although it was not restored during renovation. Evidence of this porch can be seen in the vestiges of the porch preserved on the wall.
Fig. 7 Dimensional view of the church from the northeast, after the Azerbaijani “restoration.”.
The composition of the Vankasar Church is a remarkable phenomenon not only in Armenian but also in pan-Christian architecture, with diverse manifestations and widespread presence in Armenia.
In 1986, during the Azerbaijani “restoration” works, S. Karapetyan and A. Ghazaryan, while exploring Vankasar Church, authenticated two half-forged Armenian inscriptions. A khachkar dating back to 1263, described in records from the early 18th century, was found to be missing. At one point, several other khachkars were erected around the church. One of these, dating to the 12th–13th centuries, was relocated by Azerbaijanis to the Aghdam Stone Museum. Moreover, the separate parts of the central cross of the khachkar were scraped in advance to obscure its true nature. Eventually, the khachkar was placed in the yard of Askeran Church in the early years (Fig. 8). Despite these documented facts, the Azerbaijanis have asserted that the church belongs to the Aghvan culture, disregarding its true historical and cultural significance.
Fig. 8 Khachkar of the 12th–13th centuries with traces of Azerbaijani erasures.
The church of Vankasar also bore the impact of the first Artsakh war. A shell had opened a sizable hole above the lintel on the western front, posing a threat to the stability of the wall. In the fall of 2011, the NKR Tourism Department carried out cleaning, fixing, and repairing works here. The partial fixing works were completed in January 2012, and the cross was placed on the dome of the church (Fig. 9). The destroyed part of the western facade was rebuilt. During the second Artsakh war, Vankasar Church was also targeted by Azerbaijan. Fortunately, no significant damage was sustained. Immediately after the end of the war and the transition to Azerbaijan, the cross was removed from the dome of the church, and the flag of Azerbaijan was installed.
Fig. 9 Fortified view of the church from the northeast.