Yererouk (
Armenian: Երերույքի տաճար, Yereruyk’i tachar), also Yereruyk or Ererouk, is an ancient Armenian church near the village of
Anipemza in the
Shirak Province of
Armenia. Yererouk was built on a plateau near the
Akhurian River, which defines the frontier with
Turkey, about 5 km southeast of the ancient city of
Ani.[1]
The basilica is considered one of the ancient examples of Armenian architecture, belonging to the Paleo-Christian epoch (4th–6th century). It was initially started in the 4th century,[2] then was postponed in the 5th century[3] and finally completed in the 6th century.[4] Because the basilica isn't mentioned in any historical sources, the dates are hypothetical. However, the most recent studies have analysed the architectural characteristics with stratigraphic tests, the study of the sculptural decoration and epigraphy,[5] the comparation with similar churches in
Syria.[6][7][8]
Because the
basilica of Yererouk is one of the earliest surviving Christian monuments in Armenia, it was added to the
UNESCOWorld Heritage Tentative List on August 25, 1995, in the Cultural category.[9]
Etymology and history
Plan of Yererouk basilica
Yererouk means quivering in the
Armenian language. According to popular tradition, the name of the temple was derived from its unique architectural solution of the structure which seems quivering on its 6 columns for viewers from a distance.
Yererouk is one of the earliest examples of the
Armenian church architecture and one of the greatest structures of the early medieval ages that partly survived. According to
Toros Toramanian, Yererouk is a clear and perhaps the earliest example of the basilica style of the Armenian church buildings that are constructed on pillars.[10] The church was surrounded with thick walls. From the surrounding buildings, underground rooms and the water reservoir, it becomes clear that the church was the centre of a developed residential community.
Yererouk dates back to the 4th and 5th centuries. It is located in the Shirak canton of the
Ayrarat province of
Ancient Armenia. Not much is known about the founders of the basilica. However, the church was renovated during the 11th century by the efforts of King
Hovhannes-Smbat's wife.
The building, with three
aisles, structured with thick lateral walls, is one of the biggest Armenian churches of the period.[11] With
arcades on the north, west and south sides, two little
chapels near the
apse and two absidal niches at the end of the lateral arcades, the basilica in origin could be covered wooden trusses. The north-east chapel keeps the most part of two superimposed
vaults which the superior is inclined (taller near the
nave).[12]
Yererouk Basilica is similar to Syrian basilicas in the architectural system (high angular
towers protruding on the West
facade) and in the sculptural decoration (decorative band on the
windows).
With
Tekor[21] (end of the 5th century) and
Zvartnots, Yererouk Basilica is one of the rare Armenian churches totally built on a base of 5–6 steps like a
crepidoma. The
archeological excavations revealed the lack of a continuous platform under the building which
foundations are directly on rock.
Along the south and north sides there are
tympanum portals adorned with
dentils with inscribed an arch, modeled with a banded cornice based on two columns with
acanthus leaves
capitals.[23]
The west
facade is characterized by two windows like the ones on the principal facade, with different decorative elements and, in the high part of the facade, with a three-mullioned window that lights the
nave.
The sculptural decorations, realized with the technique of bass-relief on the
architrave and
capitals in the
apse and on the head of the
arcades, give importance to the emblematic and apotropaic motive of the
Maltese cross (with four identical limbs) inscribed in a medallion, sometimes decorated with
animals and/or
trees. The central crossed medallion is often completed by two lateral medallions made like rose-windows or daisies.
^Patrick Donabédian, Ereruyk: nouvelles données sur l'histoire du site et de la basilique, Mélanges
Jean-Pierre Mahé, Travaux et Mémoires 18, Paris, 2014, p. 241-284.
^Murad Hasratian, Early christian architecture of Armenia, Zakneftegazstroy Ed, Mosca, 2000
^Patrick Donabédian, Ereruyk: nouvelles données sur l'histoire du site et de la basilique, Centre de Recherche d'Histoire et Civilisation de Byzance
^Jean Claude Bessac, Observations sur la construction de la Basilique d'Ererouk en République d'Arménie in Syria, Beirut, Presses de l'Ifpo, 2012, p. 331-336.
^H. Abich, Aus dem Kaukasischen Landern: Reisebriefe von Hermann Wien, 1896
^Armen, Garbis (1992), An Architecture of Survival, p. 71,
ISBN0-9695988-0-7
^Edwards, Robert W. (2016). "Ereruk". In Paul Corby Finney (ed.). The Eerdmans Encyclopedia of Early Christian Art and Archaeology. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 507–508.
ISBN978-0-8028-9016-0.
^A. Khatchatrian, L'architectture Arménienne du IV au VI siècle, Paris, 1971, pp.45–48;95–96
^K. J. Basmadjian, Les inscriptions arméniennes d'Ani de Bagnair et de Marmachen, Revue de l'Orient chrétien, vol. III
^H. H. Eprikian, Patkerazard bnashkharhik bararan (Illustrated Geographic Dictionary), vol. I, Venice, 1900, pag.694
^G. Hovsepian, Kartez hay hnagroutian (Atlas of Armenian antiques), Shoghakat, n.1, Vagharshapat, 1913, pag.179
^S. Djalaliants, Djhanaparhordouthioun i Metzn Hayastan (Journey to Major Armenia), vol. III, Tiflis, 1858, pag.15
^H. Manandian, Knnakan tesoutioun Hay zoghovrdi patmouthian (Critical Anthology of the history of Armenian people), vol. III 2^ part, Erevan, 1960, pag.273
^H. A. Orbeli, Divan Hay vimagrouthian (Corpus Inscriptionum Armenicarum), vol. I, Erevan, 1966, pag.58
^H. Shahkhatouniants, Storahrouthioun Kathoghikè Edchmiatzni yev hing garavatsn Ayrarata (Description of Edchmiatzin convent and the five Regions of Ayrarat), vol. II, Edchmiatzin, 1842, pp.43–44
^T. Thoramanian, Patmakan hay djhartarapetouthioun, Tekori dachar(i) (Architettura armena storica; il tempio di Tekor), vol. I, Tiflis, 1911, pp.50–52
^D. K. Kouymjian, Ereroukj basilikaji patmoutian hetkerov (Le traccie storiche della basilica di Ererouk), vol.XLIII, Antelias, 1974, pp-296-310
^G. Cubinasvili, Razyskanija po armjanskoy achitektury, Tiflis, 1967, pp.90–94
^Aa.Vv., Architettura armena dal IV al XVIII secolo, Milan, 1968
^S. Der Nersessian, Armenia and the Byzantine Empire, Cambridge, Mass., 1945, pp.63;86
^S. Der Nersessian, The Armenians, London, 1969, pp.101–102
^O. Kh. Ghalpakhtchian, G. A. Sarkisian, A. V. Vlasov, Architektura armenii (Armenian Architecture), vol. III, Moscow, 1966, pp. 208–212
^V. M. Haroutiounian, S. A. Safarian, Pamjatniki Armjanskovo zodcestva (The Monuments of Armenian architecture), Moscow, 1951, pp.35–36
^G. Hovsepian, Hay djhartarapetouthioun(i) Strzygowoskou nor ashkhathiamb (Armenian architecture according to Strzygowki studies), vol. I-II, Vagharshapat, 1921–1922, pp.291–292
^A. I. Jakobson, Ocerk istorii zodcestvenii V-XVII vekov (About the history of Armenian architecture from 5th to 17th century), Moscow, 1950, pp.12–17
^A. Khatchatrian, Annexes des églises byzantines a plan central, Actes du XII° Congrès International des Etudes Byzantines, vol. III, Beograd, 1964