Ani, the Ancient Bagratid Armenian Capital, The Church of the Redeemer 1035 a.d.

"In the year 480 (A.D. 1035), I, Ablgharib marzpan (general) took an edict on behalf of Smbat shahanshah (king of kings) to Michael, Emperor of the Greeks, at Constantinople, and with great effort and great expense I bought a fragment of the Holy Cross, and when I returned, completed this temple..."
- Part of an inscription on
the walls of this church
This large church was completed around the year 1035, and the walls are covered with long and elegantly carved inscriptions that reveal much of its history.

The inscription partially reproduced above records that the church was commissioned by prince Ablgharib Pahlavid to house a fragment of the True Cross. He had obtained this relic after a visit to Constantinople, and in the inscription he commanded that nightly services should be held within this church until the second coming of Christ.

Other inscriptions record a restoration of 1193, by a priest named Trdat, in which twin zhamatuns (outer halls) were added to house pilgrims; and another from 1291, recording that a man named Mkhitar had built a bell tower in front of the entrance. These structures have entirely vanished except for the concrete staining on parts of the facade. Another inscription tells that in 1342, prince Vahram Zakarid ordered a restoration of the cupola that was undertaken by the architect Vasil. There is also an inscription on the upper part of the south facade bearing the name "Trdat". Some have identified this Trdat as the famous architect Trdat, designer of the Ani cathedral and King Gagik's circular church. This is unlikely: the earliest known works by Trdat are from the 970s, so he was probably dead by the time this church was being constructed. The name may actually refer to the same Trdat who is mentioned in the 1193 restoration inscription.

By the end of the 19th century the church was still intact, but in an advanced state of decay. "This building will not endure for many years longer, unless steps be taken to save it from falling in", wrote H.F.B. Lynch after visiting Ani in 1894.

In 1912 the Russian excavators restored a large section of masonry on the eastern facade. After the restoration, a door with a lock was added and a small museum containing stone objects was created within the church. The eastern half of the church collapsed during a storm in 1957. Some books date this collapse to the 1930s - but the 1950s date is confirmed by local villagers, and apparently the sound of the falling masonry was heard in the village just outside the walls. The remainder of the church was badly shaken during the December 1988 earthquake and now is in danger of total collapse.

In 1999 the doorway was blocked with a roughly constructed rubble wall in a belated attempt to prevent further collapse. In reality it will have no effect, but when the final destruction comes it will give those responsible the excuse that they did something to try to prevent it. This work was organised by a foreign architect, I am told.

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