Aruchavank, Church building in Aruch, Aragatsotn Province, Armenia.
Aruchavank is a domed hall single-nave basilica on a rocky plateau at the western foot of Mount Aragats in Aruch. Its drum and dome collapsed before restoration in 1946–1948, leaving the church in a half-ruined state. The apse's semi-dome carries a roughly 7-meter figure of Christ holding a scroll, with the painter's name, Stepanos, written below.
Prince Grigor Mamikonian and his wife Heghine commissioned the construction of this church between 661 and 682, establishing it as a major religious institution. This building shaped the spiritual life of the region for centuries afterward.
Inside the apse, about 7 metres up, is a fresco of Christ holding a scroll in his left hand; beneath the pedestal the painter's name, Stepanos, is written. The interior was once covered with wall paintings of the Ascension, now almost gone.
The church is located at the western foot of Mount Aragats and can be reached through the village of Aruch in Aragatsotn Province. The site sits in a rural area, so visitors should plan for their own transportation to get there.
Excavations beside the church revealed a palace complex with a princely chamber containing ceramics, glass objects, and coins. These discoveries offer insight into the daily lives of the wealthy residents who once inhabited this ancient site.
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