Type: Small, cruciform central-plan, St. Astuacacin (St. Asdvadzadzin)
Location: Village and region of the same name in Armenia near the large Cathedral of T'alin.
Date: VII century.
Evidence For Date: Inscription inside the church.
Important Details: Sometimes called the Holy virgin Church.
Condition: Good
Reconstruction: Restored in 1948.
History and commentary: St. Astuacacin is a small, cruciform central-plan church with three apses, rectangular from exterior, flanking the central square, which was surmounted by a cupola. The cruciform shape of the church is visible from both the interior and the exterior. The west bay is square and longer than the other three arms. There is a niche located at the west end of the northern arm oriented to the east, just as in the contemporary 7th century churches. Entrance to the church is from the west. St. Astuacacin is built of rose colored tufa.
St. Astuacacin is said to be commissioned by Nerseh Kamsarakan.

The church was apparently builst for hi, his wife Susan and their son Hrahat's salvation. According to some authors inscriptions not dated identify him as Lord of Shirak and Arsarunik' and gives the Byzantine title of Patrik. But according to the dated building inscription located on either side of the window on the west wall, the church was built by Nerses Badrig Gamsaragan (nobleman) in 689. Other churches commissioned in the Sirak region by the erlier Prince Nerseh Kamsarakan include Mren, Alaman, Baaran, and the Martydom at Naxcavan.

Bibliography:
Strzygowski 1918, 161-163.
T'oromanian 1942-1948, 169,173,253.
Harutjunjan 1951, 42.
Sahinian, 1955, 184.
Tokarskii 1961, 111-112.
Sarkisian and Vlasov 1966, 208, 215.
Architettura Medievale Armena, Roma-Palazzo Vnezia 10-30 Giugno, 1968 1968, 91.
Cone 1974, 50.
Harouthiounian 1975, 60.
Der Nersessian 1978, 36.
Manuch'arian 1977, 87-89.