TANAHAT

Type: Single Nave
Location: Sissian Region, 26 Km from Sissian near village of Aravus on a hill overlooking the city.
Date: V-VI c.
Evidence For Date: Triumphal Arch carved with motif dates 6th century.
Important Details: One of the oldest and simplest single naves
churches. A basilica with a single aisle and circular apse. On the
Southern side there is a vestry and a portico on the five columns (now destroyed). The portico on the south side, where there was also the entrance to the church, was probably used as a shelter for pilgrims and perhaps for the catechumens who were not allowed into the church. Many carvings of Papyrus and floral relief are carved on imposts as well as capitols. 5th and 6th century carvings. Underground mausoleum west of the church found also.
State of Preservation: All that is left is the northern wall and the apse. With its horse-shoe arch, it has been miraculously preserved in the general ruins.
Reconstruction: excavated in 1975 (remnant of a cuneiform urartuan inscription was discovered. West walls currently being restored.
Summary:The church of S. Stepanos Naxavka other wise known as Tanahat is a single nave church and is located in Armenia. The small rectangular church with one aisle ending in a horseshoe apse is all that remains of a monastic complex located in the beautiful region of Sisian Soviet Armenia. On the South side of the apse there is a vaulted rectangular chamber inscribed in the extension of the rectilinear East End. Also known as a portico with five columns the structure is destroyed. The ground plan similar to Dirakler is probably derived from analogous Syrian buildings. The miraculously preserved
triumphal arch of the east apse has finally collapsed along with the other remnants of the church. Although the interior ground plan resembles Dirakler, the exterior structure resembles the single nave church of Garni. On the West Side, khatchkars were discovered and dated from the 13th to 17th century. This small church is all that remains of

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