We reached the Goshavank Monastery after having crossed some rather dense oak woods in the gorges of small mountain rivers. Surrounded by peasants' homes there stood the late 12 century monastery in a rather open pasture area.
It was erected in place of an older Monastery, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1188. Mikhitar Gosh, a statestman, outstanding scientist, writer of numerous fables and parables, as well as author of the first criminal code is said to have taken part in its building, thus the Monastery's name.
Among the memorial khachkars the ones created by the carver Pavgos stood out among the rest, especially the 1291 kahchkar finely carved with lacy ornaments arranged in layers in which the basic elements of the composition can be seen - a cross on a shield-shaped rosette and eight point star filling the corners of the middle cross section. Clear cut geometrical patterns make the background with accentuating elements forming a combination of floral and geometrical ornaments.
"Lacework" khachkar by Pavgos
The main church, as well as the two chapels of the ensemble are said to have been decorated as in
accordance with the traditions of the epoch. Some details did catch my
attention in both the façades and the interior, amongst which was a
rather peculiar sundial and some intricate geometrical patterns.
We would soon be walking around the path form the church where some villagers were exposing some handicraft and had prepared herbal tea, made from local mountain herbs.
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