(You don’t have to be religious!)
by Elise Adourian
July 1, 2019
Episode 1: Sevanavank Monastery
Buses filed into the parking lot as the day began at Sevanavank monastery. As the sun climbed higher into the sky, more people arrived at the picturesque monastery. Originally built on an island in the 9th century by Princess Mariam, daughter of Ashot I, the monastery consists of two churches: Saint Arakelots and Saint Astvastastin. An inscription about the construction of the church was kept in 874. The monastery is now located on a peninsula due to the draining of lake Sevan during the era of Joseph Stalin, and has increased tourism because of it.
The monastery overlooks Sevan lake, the view incredible from the top of the hill. From the church can also be seen the small shopping area below, where vendors gather to sell goods and food. Climbing up the hill, a strong smell of ‘gata’, a classic Armenian pastry, hits one in the face. The gata from the shop is blooming with flavor, and is the perfect treat to savor while enjoying the view of Sevan. Another tourist attraction at Sevanavank are the unique green khachkars that were made from a special rock near the monastery.
Sprouting off from the side of the church is a maze, sprawled across the grass. Plants made their way into the maze and splashed color into the faded stone of the maze. According to RepatArmenia, the maze was a dormitory for the monks who lived at Sevanavank. It is said that in the 19th century Sevanavank was a place for monks that had sinned, as it was located on an island then. No women or children were allowed on the island, and the monks followed a strict diet without meat or wine. According to AtlasObscura, the monks also had to copy bibles by hand.
Sevanavank is also the setting for a battle between Armenian king Ashot Erkat (meaning Ashot the Iron), also known as Ashot II, and the Arabs. The Armenian troops were greatly outnumbered by the Arabs despite the help of many fishermen and monks. Desperate, Ashot Erkat sought the help of a fisherman. The fisherman told Erkat that the Armenians had the best shot at winning if they attacked in the morning, when the sun was still rising so it would blind the Arabs. Following the fisherman’s advice, the Armenians were able to overcome the Arabs. The Bodies, blood, and the uniforms of the soldiers turned the clear waters of Sevan black. In Armenian, “sev” means black, which is why the lake was given the name Sevan.
Image Credits: http://kadr-llc.com/img/pic/flexslider/lake%20sevan/sevan8-l.jpg, http://ayastour.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Lake-Sevan-Armenias-blue-eyed-beauty.jpg, https://images.musement.com/cover/0002/50/thumb_149347_cover_header.jpeg?w=900
Sources: https://armeniadiscovery.com/en/place/sevanavank, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sevanavank, http://repatarmenia.org/en/engage/inspiration/a/10-most-beautiful-churches-in-armenia-that-you-must-visit, http://www.traveltoarmenia.am/gd/sacred-sights/sevanavank/91/, https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/sevanavank