Gavit
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In a medieval Armenian monastery, a gavit or zhamatun is a congressional room or mausoleum added to the entrance of a church, and therefore often contiguous to its west side. It served as narthex, mau
Gavit of Geghard Monastery in Armenia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dated 1215–1225, it has a muqarnas vault at the center.
Zhamatun of Horomos Monastery, 1038
Zhamatun of Harichavank Monastery, 1201-1219
The first known zhamatun is from Horomos, dated 1038. Vault with oculus ("lightwell") and decorated slabs in an octagonal layout.
The Church of the Holy Apostles, also Arak’elots, is an important ecclesiastical monument of the ruined city of Ani, modern Turkey, on the border with Armenia.
Gavit
…Church of St. Amenaprkitch in Sanahin Monastery, was built in 1181 and has an inscription mentioning Sargis Zakarian. Goshavank (1197). Gavit in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Ani (after 1031, before 1215, probably c. 1200). Remains of zhamatun with muqarnas-decorated vault, Bagnayr Monastery, dated 1201. Gavit in the first…
In-situ reconstruction. Top: current ruins (Seljuk gavit to the left, ruins of the Armenian church to the right). Bottom: reconstruction.
The church before the construction of the gavit in front
Gate of the old church, viewed from inside the church
Remains of the Church (interior to north apse)