Pemzashen Church, 7th-century church in Pemzashen, Armenia.
Pemzashen Church is a 7th-century building featuring an octagonal drum with four small windows and a cruciform central plan typical of Armenian religious design. The structure remains partly ruined with collapsed sections and a missing dome, though the geometric cornice beneath the damage has survived in its original form.
The building dates to the 7th century and sits beside the remains of a 5th-century basilica foundation. This location marks a place of continuous religious importance that spans at least two centuries in Shirak Province.
The carved entrance lintel depicts the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus, framed by angels and figures bearing gifts in careful detail. These carvings show how people expressed their religious devotion through stone carving and artistic craftsmanship.
Plan to visit with sturdy footwear since the site contains fallen walls and uneven ground from centuries of decay. The partially ruined state means you should move carefully and avoid leaning on or climbing unstable sections of stonework.
A side chapel connects to the main structure through its own separate entrance, creating an architectural arrangement unlike typical church designs of the period. This independent addition suggests the building was adapted over time to serve additional religious functions without altering the core structure.
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