Surb Yerordutyun, Akhtala, Medieval monastery in Akhtala, Armenia.
Surb Yerordutyun is a monastery complex on the slope of a gorge on the left bank of the Hankeri Jur stream, 0.5 km northeast of Akhtala Monastery. It consists of two adjoining churches separated by a shared partition with an arched opening, a common vaulted hall along their west walls, and two chapels, one attached to the south church and one cut into the slope on the west. The walls are laid in dressed bluish porous basalt with lime mortar; the churches stand, but most of the paving and all roof slabs are gone.
The complex was built in the second quarter of the 13th century. Historical sources record nothing about it; the only reference is a Georgian inscription carved on a khachkar inside the churches, asking God to have mercy on its builders Gevorg and Simon. Gevorg led Surb Yerordutyun, while Simon was the abbot of Akhtala Monastery, also named in an Armenian inscription on a church in the old village site east of Akhtala.
The only written record of the monastery is a Georgian inscription carved on a khachkar inside the churches, translated as "Lord God, have mercy on its builders Gevorg and Simon". Gevorg led Surb Yerordutyun and Simon led Akhtala Monastery, and Simon also appears in an Armenian inscription on a church in the old village site east of Akhtala.
The complex stands on a slope on the left bank of the Hankeri Jur stream, 0.5 km northeast of Akhtala Monastery. The two churches and the shared hall are roofless: all roof slabs have fallen and most of the paving is worn away, so watch your step on loose stone. The second chapel is cut into the slope, with only its west wall and entrance exposed.
The only written record of the monastery is a Georgian inscription carved on a khachkar inside the churches, translated as "Lord God, have mercy on its builders Gevorg and Simon". Gevorg led Surb Yerordutyun, Simon led Akhtala Monastery. The verb used is "built", not the usual "erected" for a cross-stone, so it refers to the monastery itself.
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