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Church of Holy Virgin in Bjni

 
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Bjni is located in the province of Kotayk, historically belonging to the house of Pahlavouni. The village played a significant role in medieval Armenian life.

The Church of Sourp Astvatzatzin (Holy Virgin) was built by the order of Prince Grigor Magistros in year 1031. The dome and the drum rest upon four pointed arches leaning on four pillars. The united-undivided inside space is peculiar to domed halls, which exist in 6-8th century temples of Ptghi and Aruch. The organization of this space in Bjni has a little different salvation. The eastern pillars carrying the dome don't come out from the longitudinal walls as in Ptghi and Aruch, but are jointed with the walls of big bay (13.4 x 22.1m). The style of decorative motives under the window of the big bay is like 11th century ornaments.

The southern and western frontal doors are restrained and not decorated. There is an inscription on the southern frontal door, telling about restoration. The polyhedral dome, resting on a 32 edged drum, is crowned with triangle-shaped cornices on the eastern side, which serves as a basis for the fan-vaulted roof.

The complex of the monument is surrounded with a serve wall, which in 1666 was built by Movses preceptor. It is built of big and small half-processed granite stone and has round towers in the corners.

To the south of the church, there is a small church, built in the 13th century. Beside the western wall of the church rests a large khatchkar. There are khatchkars with beautiful ornaments around the Holy Virgin's church, two of which were built by the famous medieval preceptor Melikset Kazmogh.

The church was reconstructed in 1939, 1947, 1949 and 1957.


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