Surb Khach is an Armenian khachkar (cross-stone) of the VI century , which served as the basis for the monastery of the same name in the Crimea , then transported to the Don River region . Currently located in the Surb Khach monastery in Rostov-on-Don .
History
In the XI - XIII centuries , after the fall of the capital of the Armenian kingdom, the cities of Ani , driven by the Seljuk Turks, and then the Mongol Tatars, left their city and homeland. Most of the migrants ended up in the Crimea . The Khachkar Surb Khach, taken from Ani, served as the basis for the Crimean monastery of the same name, erected in 1385 in the vicinity of the city of Old Crimea. For five centuries, the khachkar was in the Crimean Armenian monastery of Surb Khach .
In 1778, the relocation of Crimean Armenians to the region of the Don River began. When leaving, the Armenian immigrants took with them the most necessary things, including church property, among which there were 800 khachkars, including the khachkar Surb Khach. In the new homeland, in the churches being built on the Don, former residents of the Crimea tried to preserve the image and names of the abandoned temples. The ornamental cross-stones brought with them in the constructed churches became an integral element of artistic decoration. They were located on the facades and interiors of temples. A special symbolic role was played by the Anijan khachkar, placed in the church of the Surb Khach monastery, which was named after the Crimean monastery [1] .
In 1924, the monastery church was robbed. The cross-stone was transported to the Cathedral Church of Surb Lusavorich . However, after he was closed in the 30s, the khachkar Surb Khach was installed in the cemetery church of St. Karapet . After that, the khachkar was transported to the Museum of Russian-Armenian friendship, which was located in the building of the closed church of Surb Khach [1] . In 2007, the monastery was returned to the fold of the Armenian Apostolic Church . It was planned that when the museum moves to the new building, the khachkar will also be transported. However, at the request of the parishioners, the khachkar Surb Khach remained in the church of the same name, where he remains to this day [2]
Building
At the end of the 19th century, the khachkar Surb Khach was framed by a gilded glass frame, complemented by two crosses: a large copper one and a small silver one, which disappeared after the looting of the church in the 1920s. Not distinguished by special refinement, the khachkar was made of basalt. There were no inscriptions on the monument. On the front side of the cross-stone there are two images typical of khachkars of ancient origin: In the upper part of the stone there is a rosette with a decorative ornament symbolizing the sun - which in turn is a sign of eternity, indicating eternal life. Under the outlet is a large cross - a symbol of Christianity [1] [3] .
Gallery
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 Svetlana Khachikyan. Khachkar Surb Khach again in Surb Khache (inaccessible link) . Nakhchivan news. Date of treatment September 15, 2013. Archived March 4, 2016.
- ↑ Surb-Khach monastery in Rostov-on-Don is returned to the Armenian Church . Patriarchy.ru (March 26, 2007). - According to the press conference at the Rosbalt-South news agency, Deputy Head of the Novo-Nakhichevan and Russian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archimandrite Vrtanes. Date of treatment July 16, 2009.
- ↑ Khachkar - stone-cross . Museums of Russia. Date of appeal September 15, 2013.