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Armenian Surb Khach Monastery

Armenian Surb Khach Monastery

The door of the Surb Khach Monastery Complex of Armenian Apostolic Church is open to all! This unique sanctuary is located on the Crimean peninsula, and for several centuries is pleased to welcome its visitors.

 

In the 13th century, many Armenians fled from the invasion of the Seljuk Turks to Crimean lands. Monks, who sought after a place for a monastery, were among them. At that time a monk Ovanes Sebastatsi and his brothers had a vision in the form of a cross. This is how Armenian Surb Nshan Church (meaning Holy Sign) appeared on this land. It was erected in 1358, not only for the Armenians but for those looking for lustration, appeasement. This date is recorded in verse inscriptions on the dome of the church. Since then, building of the monastery was started. Already in the 17th century the monastery became one of the major pilgrimage centres of the Armenian Church in the Crimea and the Black Sea region. The Monastery experienced a lot of troubles: Genoese colony, Turkish attacks, reign of the Tatar Khanate and the Russian Empire. The Soviet government has brought the decline of the monastery: many monks were killed, some buildings were destroyed, and valuable books were burned. And all this time, monks, body and soul, served and protected this sacred land.

 

Everything in the monastery is thought carefully through! At the entrance to the monastery you will notice tombstones of dead monks. Thus, till the present day they continue to bear their mission – to support all those who suffer and who seek for answers. Today the restoration is actively carried out, in order to give new life to the Armenian shrine. In 2008 the celebration of the 650th anniversary of the monastery complex was attended by the presidents of Armenia and Ukraine, as well as representatives of their communities. Since many years the monastery has became active. There is a museum exhibition in the refectory, which tells the story of the centuries-old Surb Khach.

 

Now you can see Surb Nshan Church, refectory with a fireplace and a stove, a living building and fountains. The interior of the shrine is remarkable for its entrance portal, altar, high dome, where you can see inscriptions in Old-Armenian language. A gavit, entrance to the church, decorated with stone crosses, adjoins the main facade, and is joined with a bell tower by stone stairs. Your attention will be attracted by two impressive stone terraces, one of which is remarkable for its working fountains and in former times it was used for a fruit garden, and on the second terrace you can find a hotel for pilgrims. Ceramic pipes of water supply system were constructed for the fountains. Clean water comes from the springs located above. Many people believe in their healing properties. There is a legend about foundation of a chapel on the place of a spring, located a few kilometres from the monastery. It was built by a Tartar, who believed and was baptized. All this thanks to the miraculous healing – water from the spring helped him to start walking.

 

You will find many wonders in the Surb Khach Monastery, which is considered to be a miracle as well. It is beautiful! Influence of time can be seen on ancient walls, arched doorways, stone staircases, interior stone decorations, roof tiles faded in the sun – but they all make the monastery more attractive, so you might feel eternity and peace in the air. Mountain wooded slopes emphasize beauty of the monastery. Not surprisingly, it was praised by many philosophers and poets.

 

It’s easy to get to the Armenian Surb Khach Monastery – pointers show the road. It is located three kilometres from the town of Staryi Krym on the north-western slopes of Grytsia Mountain. Take this spiritual journey!

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