The Yereruyk architectural complex

Region

Shirak

Distance from Yerevan

104.3 km

Type

Monastery/Church

The Yereruyk architectural complex is one of the most notable monuments of early Christian architecture. It is also known as the Yereruyk Basilica, the Church of the Holy Mother of God, or simply Yereruyk. In the late Middle Ages, it became a monastery-church named Holy Trinity. Yereruyk is a three-nave basilica built in the 5th–6th centuries, standing on a natural rocky plateau, on a platform surrounded by 5, 7, and 9 steps. The stepped design primarily aimed to level out the irregularities of the site. These steps were built entirely from large, finely-cut stones. The church is made of the light orange tuff from Ani. The roof of Yereruyk is completely missing today, and only fragmented ruins remain of its columned halls. However, carved capitals and bases can still be seen on the remnants, reflecting the architectural style of the 5th century. The church has three entrances—two on the southern side and one on the western. The southern façade stands out for its artistic ornamentation, with two sculpted doorways that emphasize the façade’s grandeur. On the western side, there are two small rooms, also preserved in a partially ruined state. The apse, located on the eastern side, is in the worst condition, damaged from both the inside and outside. Numerous archaeological excavations have been conducted at Yereruyk. In the early 1900s, studies were carried out by Toros Toramanian and a team led by Nikoghayos Marr. In 2010–2011, specialists from the Shirak Geological Museum and France’s Medieval Archaeology Laboratory for Countries around the Mediterranean (L.A.M.M.) worked on the site. From 2009 to 2016, an Armenian-French archaeological expedition led by Patrick Donabédian from Aix-Marseille University also conducted research.