The monuments of Armenian temple architecture, which include the Surb Khach Monastery (Old Crimea), are distinguished by a special composition and unique style. There are not so many constructions of the ancient periods left, the more valuable and interesting the visit to this monastery will become. It dates back to the 14th century, and it reflected the bright features of traditional Armenian architecture.
History of construction
In the 12-13th century, the powerful ancient state of Armenia fell into decay due to the constant attacks of foreigners, and this leads to a large migration of the population and the spread of Armenian culture to other territories. A large group of Armenians moved to the Crimea, where the Genoese Republic ruled at that time , which considered the spread of Catholicism to be one of its missions. Armenian Christian immigrants as a sign of quiet resistance went deep into the Crimea, and as a result of this there is a significant growth of new Orthodox monasteries. Surb Khach Monastery in Crimea was founded in 1358. It served as a refuge and spiritual center for Armenians who left their homeland. The monastery is the largest monument of Armenian culture in the Crimea. In the 15th century, when the Turkish invaders ravaged the lands of the peninsula, the monastery survived, because even the enemies did not raise a hand to destroy such a place of power. In the 17-18 centuries, the monastery was rebuilt and grows several times. Gradually, Surb Khach becomes a major pilgrimage center of the Black Sea coast. In 1778, a large resettlement of Armenians from the Crimean lands to the Lower Don took place at the behest of Empress Catherine the Second. And the brotherhood of the monastery collects its belongings and also moves with its people to the Don, where it opens a monastery with the same name. At the very end of the 18th century, the Crimean monastery resumed its work, and although it was no longer a diocese, it retained its spiritual and practical significance for the Armenians who remained in Crimea. Before the revolution, Surb Khach owned 4 thousand acres of land. But after the coup in 1925, the monastery, as a religious institution, was liquidated. In Soviet times, various institutions were located here: from the pioneer camp to the tuberculosis hospital. During the Second World War, the Nazis, who destroyed everything in their path, did not dare to destroy such a prayed place. At the end of the 80s, Surb Khach began to be restored, in 1994, services are resumed here. Today the monastery is open for visits and prayers, services continue here, but the monastic brotherhood no longer lives here.
Architectural complex
The Armenian monastery of Surb Khach today consists of several buildings: a church, a refectory, a home for the brotherhood, as well as a garden with fountains. The monastery complex is located in a very beautiful place - the Crimean forest on the slope of Mount Grytsya. Ancient walls have amazing energy and strength. It is very quiet here, buildings are not shocked by beauty, but by majesty and spiritual power. On the walls of the complex you can see a lot of carvings, murals, elegant decorations. Carved stairs and air passages give harmony and lightness to brutal stone walls. Today, the monastery is in ruins, and this only adds charm to the buildings. Walls covered with moss, supports, twined with wild grapes, mountain springs - all this sets up a peaceful way. The complex makes a lasting impression with its harmony and the spirit of antiquity.
Church of the Holy Sign
The Crimean monastery of Surb Khach was built around Surb-Nshan, the church of St. The signs. Local legend says that once people saw a holy cross in the sky above the side of a mountain, he pointed to the place where the purest spring had hammered. In honor of such a sign, the first church of wood was built, later a stone temple arose in its place. A poetic inscription carved in stone around the domed “drum” tells us that the temple was built in 1358. The architecture of the cathedral is a continuation of the medieval Armenian traditions, it is recognizable by the pyramid tent made of stone, mounted on a high faceted "drum". The temple is made of large gray stones, the roof is covered with red tiles. Laconic and powerful building is an organic part of the stone fence, which once performed defensive functions. On the walls of the cathedral medieval paintings are preserved. On them you can see the image of the Holy Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus in her arms, with saints around. Also on one of the fragments the coat of arms of the Armenian church - a lamb with a cross - is preserved.
A rectangular narthex (gavit) adjoins the main building, into which two entrances led before. The walls of the narthex are decorated with carvings in the form of crosses. The theme of this Christian symbol is traced everywhere. After all, the monastery itself and the mountain on which it stands are named after the Holy Cross. A bell tower rises above the narthex, into which a stone staircase decorated with carvings leads from gavit. The narthex and the bell-tower date from the beginning of the 15th century.
Refectory
On the other side of the monastery courtyard, opposite the church of St. Signs, there is a monastery refectory. Once the Surb Khach Monastery was a haven for hundreds of people, and therefore it needed a large room for feeding the brethren and pilgrims. Now the refectory is a two-story building with a large basement. But the second floor was built up only in the 19th century, it housed rooms for pilgrims and pilgrims. The refectory space itself consists of two halls. The northern hall is equipped with a large fireplace with an arch; the stove was also located here. In the south is a staircase to the basement, as well as the entrance to the gatekeeper. Near the refectory you can see the fountain, the northern wall of the building is connected to the stone fence of the monastery.
Residential buildings
In the old days, the Surb Khach monastery was a very visited place, and special premises were needed to accommodate pilgrims and the brethren. Cells of monks adjoin the southern wall of the temple. The building was built at the end of the 17th century and consists of two floors. On the first floor were 8 rooms for various purposes. The cells on the first floor had access to a shared open balcony. The interior of the fraternal building is very ascetic, the dynamics of the room are created by rows of arched ceilings. From the south, a one-story building of the monastery hotel adjoins the fraternal building. It was destroyed in the middle of the 20th century, and in the 80s was restored according to preserved drawings.
Monastery garden
At its dawn, Surb Khach Monastery was famous for its gardens with numerous fountains. Today, there is not much left of its former splendor. Here you can see the remains of ancient paths, an almost imperceptible layout of landings and two fountains made of stone. Fountains are rectangular structures with a stone facade decorated with carvings. To provide water facilities in the monastery, a ceramic water supply system was operated, through which water was supplied from sources. The 5-march staircase once led from the refectory to the fountains, today fragments of the staircase and four stone terraces have been preserved.
Interesting Facts
The ancient Surb Khach monastery in the Old Crimea is a unique and legendary place. Here was an old stone cross - khachkar (stone cross). It is the main relic of the monastery, but when the brethren moved, they took this difficult sacred object with them to a new monastery on the Don. Therefore, in Crimea today you can see only its many images.
From the monastery you can get to the place with the speaking name Forest Wilderness, where there are the ruins of another ancient monastery - Surb Stefanos of the 14th century.
Near the monastery of Surb Khach there flows a mountain spring, which, according to legend, has miraculous power. The water in the spring is crystal clear and can be drunk calmly.
How to get there
How to find Surb Khach Monastery? The monastery’s address is conditional: Old Crimea, Kirovsky district. You need to drive from the town of Old Crimea on a dirt road in a south-westerly direction. Despite the fact that the Surb Khach Monastery, whose contacts cannot be found, is a historical and architectural monument, a museum, there is no telephone and the Internet. Therefore, it remains to rely on navigators and good people who always show the way.