The Tatev monastery is a 9th-century
Armenian Apostolic monastery located on a large basalt
plateau near the Tatev village in Syunik Province in southeastern Armenia. The
term "Tatev" usually refers to the monastery. The monastic ensemble
stands on the edge of a deep gorge of the Vorotan River. Tatev is known as the
bishopric seat of Syunik and played a significant role in the history of the
region as a center of economic, political, spiritual and cultural activity.
In the 14th and 15th centuries the
monastery hosted one of the most important Armenian medieval universities, the
University of Tatev, which contributed to the advancement of science, religion
and philosophy, reproduction of books and development of miniature painting. Scholars
of the Tatev University contributed to the preservation of Armenian culture and
creed during one of its most turbulent periods in its history.
Tatev Monastery is located in South-East
Armenia, in the area of ancient Armenian Syunik, not far from the city of Goris
and 280 km away from Yerevan. The Tatev plateau has been in use since
pre-Christian times, hosting a pagan temple. The temple was replaced with a
modest church following the Christianization of Armenia in the 4th century.
Development of the Tatev Monastery began in
the 9th century when it became the seat of the bishop of Syunik. In his History
of the Province of Syunik, historian StepanosOrbelian describes the
construction of a new church near the old one in 848 through the financial assistance
of Prince Phillip of Syunik. With the growth of economic and political
importance of the centre, the aging buildings no longer suited its
requirements, and thus Bishop Hovhannes (John) obtained the financial
assistance of Prince Ashot of Syunik to construct the new monastery.