Gandzasar monastery located in the administrative territorial entity Martakert Province
Gandzasar (Armenian: Գանձասար) is a 13th-century Armenian Apostolic cathedral (historically a monastery) near the village of Vank in the Martakert Province of the breakaway Republic of Artsakh, de jure in the Kalbajar District of Azerbaijan. It has historically been the region's most important church since its foundation. One of the finest pieces of Armenian architecture of the mid-1200s, the building is best known among scholars for its richly decorated dome.In Azerbaijan, the monastery is called Ganjasar (Azerbaijani: Gəncəsər) and the Azerbaijan authorities deny its Armenian heritage, instead referring to it as "Caucasian Albanian".Description
The monastery is located atop a hill, at an altitude of 1,270 metres (4,170 ft), to the south-west of the village of Vank (Azerbaijani: Vəngli) in the province of Martakert. The walled monastery complex includes the church with its narthex (gavit), living quarters, bishop's residence, refectory, and a school building. The living quarters, located on the northern side contain eight cells (2.9 by 2.5 metres (9.5 ft × 8.2 ft)), were built in the 17th century. On the eastern side there is a refectory, built circa 1689. The two-floored school building was erected in 1898. To the south of the monastery walls is the old cemetery, where priests, bishops and notable laypeople (such as meliks) of the areas were buried.Anatoli L. Yakobson called Gandzasar an "encyclopedia" of Armenian architecture, while Bagrat Ulubabyan and M. S. Asatryan described it as a "jewel".The monastery consists of a narthex (gavit) and the main church, named for John the Baptist.The narthex or gavit, measured 11.8 by 13.25 metres (38.7 ft × 43.5 ft), is a square-plan hall with two columns near the eastern wall that support the roof. It is very similar to the gavit of the Holy Cross church of Haghpat Monastery. The portal on western facade of the gavit is richly decorated.The church's exterior dimensions are variously given as 11.8 by 17.4 metres (39 ft × 57 ft) or 12.3 by 17.75 metres (40.4 ft × 58.2 ft).
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