VARDAPETARAN OF KHORANASHAT

Abstract

The vardapetaran of Khoranashat was founded and administered till the end of his life by
vardapet Vanakan of Tavush (1181-1251), medieval scientific, cultural and public figure. That
educational institution started functioning in the beginning of 1210 in Khoranashat monastery
being built by the same Vanakan vardapet. The vardapetaran, having a historical bend, soon
became one of the most outstanding higher educational institutions in Armenia. A number of
scientific, cultural figures studied there. The most vivid of them were Vardan vardapet and
Kuirakos Gandzkaetsi. The successor of the vardapet Vanakan of Khoranashat vardapetaran
became Grigoris vardapet. During his administration the glory of that educational institution
began to fade. We can state that Grigoris vardapet was the last head of the Khoranashat
vardapetaran.