Dadivank Monastery (Khutavank)

A monastery founded at the end of the I century AD and named after one of the disciples of Juda (Thaddeus) the Apostle, St. Dadi, who was martyred preaching Christianity in the Eastern parts of Armenia. Type: Monastic complex Age: I-XIII cc. Region: Karabakh Diocese: Artsakh

The Monastery of St. Dadi, called Dadivank or Khutavank (i.e. Monastery-Upon-the-Hill) is a monastic complex in Artsakh and one of the most magical masterpieces of Armenian medieval architecture. It is located on a hill above a mountain valley, on the territory of Artsakh's historical province of Upper Khachen.

The legend tells that the monastery was founded at the end of the 1^st century AD at the burial place of one of the disciples of Thaddeus the Apostle, St. Dadi, who was martyred for preaching Christianity in Artsakh. Then it was ruined and rebuilt in the 12^th century.

The monastic complex of Dadivank consists of the Memorial Cathedral (Katoghike), Church of the Holy Virgin, Chapel, Memorial Bell-Tower and several auxiliary buildings. In the 5^th century the temple became the residence of the Bishop of Aghvan, while afterwards it was turned into one of the most significant educational and enlightening centres of that region.

According to the ancient scripts, the remains of St Dadi were buried in the yard of one of the temples of the monastic complex. After recent archaeological excavations the remains of the Armenian Saint were found and blessed by His Grace Archbishop Barkev Martirossian, the primate of the diocese of Artsakh. Nowadays, after the 1994 reconstruction, Dadivank is on the list of acting monasteries of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

See also

• The Grave of St. Dadi - the Disciple of Apostle St. Thaddeus was Discovered in Dadivank Monastery.

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