NEWLY DISCOVERED EPIGRAPHS AND EPIGRAPHY REVISIONS IN ETCHMIADZIN CATHEDRAL

Abstract

The article for the first time puts into scientific circulation seven epigraphs (of which 5
concerning construction, 1 memorial recording and 1 concerning donation) discovered by the
author in Etchmiadzin Cathedral in 2018-2019. With these 7, the number of Cathedral
epigraphs known to science totals 62. Among the epigraphs concerning construction the most
exceptional is the one on the north-west pylon of the eastern belfry built by catholicos
Yeghiazar I Ayntabtsi (Yeghiazar of Ayntab, 1681-1691), which mentions the name of the
architect: ‘‘Poghos varpet Kaytsak’’ (Poghos master Kaytsak). Likewise noteworthy is the
recording on the big cross set up during the reign of Yeghiazar Ayntabtsi, as well as the
epigraph about the construction work in 1769-1771 carried out by catholicos Simeon
Yerevantsi (Simeon of Yerevan, 1763-1780), carved by archimandrite Grigor Yeghvardetsi in
the secret cell on the second floor of southern vestry. Besides these 7 epigraphs, we present 3
incomplete inscriptions carved on the south wall of the secret way from the north vestry to the
roof, in the north window cavity of St Archangels' altar in the great belfry and the south-east
pylon of east belfry. We have also rectified two inscriptions which are carved in places hard to
reach and were previously published. One is the main record of the construction of the big
belfry, carved on the third-floor rotunda dome of the belfry (the belfry foundation year has
been revised), and the second is the record on the east belfry rotunda drum (the name of deacon
Avanes mentioned in the record has been revised).