| Vank Monastery | |
|---|---|
 The cathedral in 1901 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Armenian Apostolic Church |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Status | Completely destroyed (1930) |
| Location | |
| Location | Tbilisi,Georgia |
  Shown within Georgia | |
| Coordinates | 41°41′47″N44°48′24″E / 41.696328°N 44.806723°E /41.696328; 44.806723 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Triple-nave basilica with three cupolas |
| Style | Armenian |
| Completed | 14th century (restored in 1480 and 1789) |
| Dome | 3 |
TheChurch of the Holy Mother of God of the Mens Monastery, also known asPashavank (Armenian:Պաշավանք[1]) was an Armenian Apostolic church[1] in the city ofTbilisi located on the right bank of theKura River.[2] It was destroyed by theBolsheviks in 1938.
Pashavank was founded in the 14th century by the grandsons of Baron Umek who arrived in Tbilisi from Karin (Erzerum) in the 13th century.[3] The structure was restored in 1480, and more extensively in 1789.[1] It was seat of the Armenian archbishop in 1914.[2] Hrants was the largest church in Tbilisi until it was demolished in 1930 by Soviet authorities.[1]
John Buchan Telfer wrote in his 1876 book "the principal church of the Armenians is the Pasha Vank, a handsome building within a high-walled enclosure; an inscription below a window records that it was erected by Ghoulants Khodja Giorgi, in the reign of Vakhtang VI, 1719-24; the Georgians have given the name of Pasha Vank, because they say it was erected by a Turkish pasha who had embraced the Christian faith."[4]
The church of S. Astvatsatsin was very original in design. Its exterior was constructed of solidbrickwork, and was a triple-nave (with equal naves)basilica in plan. There werebarrel vaults undersaddle roofs and threecupolas above the east spans, the central one being the tallest whereas the other two were slightly smaller.[1] Thedrums weredodecagonal, with twelve long windows located underblind arches topped by horizontalmolding and a row of decorativebricks. Conical umbrella styledomes surmounted the drums. The interior was painted byHovnatan Hovnatanian in 1789.[1]
.JPG)
| Structure |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Traditions | ||
| Personalities | ApostlesSaint Thaddeus andSaint Bartholomew (founders of the Armenian Apostolic Church) | |
| Councils | ||
| Seminaries | ||
