Matosavank is a 13th-century Armenian Apostolic Church complex located 4 km west of Dilijan, near the village of Shamakhyan. Built in 1205, the monastery is an important part of Armenian Christian heritage and attracts tourists with its history and architecture.
The monastery is located far from civilization. To get to it, you need to walk through the forest, observing the nature of the reserve along the way. This has its own mystery and its own idea: ancient Armenians believed that the path to religious buildings, to God, should be exactly like this. There is also a rational reason: in secluded places, far from roads, churches were better protected from the encroachments of robbers and destruction by enemies.
The Legend of the Founding
According to a legend told by local residents, a prince once lived in these parts, who wanted to thank God for his victory, but did not find a single church nearby. Then the prince went deep into the Dilijan forest, climbed the steep slopes and disappeared. The prince was battered and wounded. When he returned, he was unrecognizable: there was not a scratch on him. Later, the Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) Church was built on the site of his prayers, but to this day it is called Matosavank – in honor of the first abbot Matos.
Description
Matosavank is a 13th-century Armenian Apostolic Church complex located 4 km west of Dilijan, near the village of Shamakhyan. The complex consists of a small church, a narthex, and a scriptorium (book depository), located close to each other. A cemetery is located to the southeast of the buildings. The small church of 1205 was built with large semi-processed stones. An inscription about the foundation is carved on the faсade stone, and khachkars stand on both sides of it. Under the wall of the church, in the northern part, there is a khachkar of particular beauty, dating back to 1251.
Story
Matosavank Monastery was founded by Avag, a representative of the princely family of Zakaryan. This family became famous for its heroic deeds in the name of Armenia, as well as the historical and cultural heritage it left behind. According to sources, the temple complex was built in honor of the victory of the united Armenian-Georgian army over the Seljuk Turks. This, in principle, explains its remote location.
In the 16th century, the monastery suffered greatly during a series of Arab invasions. It was subsequently restored in the 17th and 18th centuries, with the last major works taking place in the 19th century.
Despite its abandoned state, the moss-covered Matosavank has a special atmosphere. The opening of the collapsed dome illuminates the amazingly beautiful khachkars and inscriptions in the darkness. The church ministers copied manuscripts, worked as translators, studied books and spent days discussing them.
Currently, the complex is in ruins, partially covered with earth, and consists of a church (without a dome), a narthex and a book depository, adjacent to each other.
