Armenian church architecture
Armenian church architecture is the architectural style of the Armenian church buildings created since the Apostolic era of Christianity in the Armenian Highland during the 1st century. It was developed over the last 1900 years. According to professor Dickran Kouymjian, the unique national style of Armenian church architecture came into being by the late 6th or early 7th century, probably becoming the first national style in Christian architecture, long before the Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic or the less known Ethiopian, Scandinavian and Slavic styles were concretely formed.
Characteristics
's institution as Armenia's official religion in 300 allowed new developments in Armenian architecture. The first Armenian churches were built on the orders of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, and were often built on top of pagan temples, imitating some aspects of Armenian pre-Christian architecture.Armenian churches particularly have several distinctive features with common characteristics:
- Pointed domes, reminiscent of the volcanic cone of Greater Ararat. The conical or semiconical radially segmented dome or cupola is mounted above vaulted ceilings on a cylindrical drum
- The vertical emphasis of the whole structure, with the height often exceeding the length of a church
- Reinforcement of the verticality with tall, narrow windows
- Stone vaulted ceilings.
- Composed almost entirely of stone, usually volcanic tufa or basalt.
- A composite roof composed of finely-cut tufa shingles.
- Frescoes and carvings, if present, are usually ornate and include swirling intertwining grapevines and foliage.
- Heavy use of tall structural arches, both for supporting the cupola as part of the drum, the vaulted ceiling, and the vertical walls.
- Roofs intersecting to support the dome, both in basilicas and centrally-planned churches.
- Sculptural decoration of external walls, including figures.
Classification of traditional Armenian churches
| Style | Armenian nomenclature | Example |
| Basilica | Bazilik | Yererouk |
| Domed basilica | Gmbetakir bazilik | Tekor Basilica |
| Cruciform | Etchmiadznatip | Etchmiadzin Cathedral |
| Vertical-emphasis rectangular | Oughatzig karankiun | Saint Gayane Church |
| Radial | Sharavighayin | Saint Hripsime Church |
| Circular | Zvartnotsatip | Zvartnots Cathedral |