VOSKEPAR (Oskepar)

Type: Cruciform Central Plan
Location: On the border of the regions of Ijewan and Noyembrian
Date: VII Century
Evidence For Date: No documentation regarding construction has been found. Dated by style.
Important Details: Belongs to the "Mastara" type plan. Also roof originally made of tiles.
Condition: Good
Reconstruction: 1975-1977
History & commentary:The church of St.Astuacacin at Voskepar is located near the village of the same name on the border of the regions of Ijewan and Noyembrian, Armenia (coord, 41-04/45-06). The church is attributed to the 7th century on the basis of its architectural style. No inscriptions or documentary information have been found regarding its construction.

Voskepar is a cruciform central plan church with four apses radiating from the large central square which is surmounted by an octagonal drum. The apses are identical in size, rectilinear on the exterior. Two rectangular chambers flank the east apse and are embedded in the rectilinear east end of the church.

The church is constructed of light beige colored sandstone. The two portals, on the south and the west have a pediment resting on two columns. Aside from these , the only other ornamentation on the exterior is the blind arcade with double columns carved on the exterior or the drum.

The church is a good state of preservation although stones from the conical roof and from the upper parts of the pediments have fallen. Fragments of tiles found at the site indicate that the roof was originally made of tiles, and later covered with stone. The Armenian commission for the restoration of monuments carried out the restoration work on the church during 1975-1977.

In its plan, Voskepar belongs to the group of Armenian churches name the "Mastara Type" after the larger 7th century church of St. Hovhannes in Mastara (A-0029) located in the region of T'alin, Armenian. There are similarities also with St. Georg at Art'ik (A-0014) and the church of St. Gregory at Haric (A-0033) from which Voskepar differs by its smaller dimensions and its rectangular instead of polygonal or semicircular cross arms. In the 10th-11th century of the same plan, except for the rectangular chambers, is repeated in the church of Gmbet' Kilise near Kars (A-2292).

Bibliography:
Avetisjian 1937
Jakobson 1950-1
Tokarskii 1959-1,116-117
Harouthiounian 1975,57
Fratadocchi 1973,189
Ellaryan 1980,76-77
Grabar 1980,vol.1 (A-0093)
Cuneo 1988,155