Kusanats monastery (Shusha) | church, christianity, place with historical importance, destroyed, Armenian Apostolic church

 church, christianity, place with historical importance, destroyed, Armenian Apostolic church

Kusanats Monastery (Armenian Կուսանաց վանք, romanized - Kusanats-vank, meaning “Maiden Monastery”) is also referred to as Anapat (Armenian: Անապատ, for “desert”) - a now defunct monastery of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the city of Shushi.
Kusanats Vank is the oldest Christian temple in the city and was one of the city's 12 Armenian monasteries. The temple was founded in 1816 with the help of the pious maiden Hripsime. She raised enough money from handicrafts to finance the construction of the temple. The brothers Israel, Astvatsatur and Petros Baaduryans also helped her. The temple had a rectangular hall. The monastery was built from hewn blocks of white limestone. The inside walls were covered with frescoes depicting biblical motives. A three-story bell tower adjoined the southern facade of the temple. Thanks to this bell tower, Kusanats vank left an indelible impression, towering over the entire city.

The monastery had several outbuildings, including the Vernatun (in Armenian for "living room"). A cannon was kept in the courtyard of the monastery, which was cast in Turin in 1813. The cannon has its own history. It was used by Armenian volunteers, led by Archbishop Khoren, that defended the Hawnoot gorge. The last time the Armenians defended themselves with this weapon during the massacre of 1905. The complex ended with a two-story dwelling house for girls. There were comfortable rooms with small balconies, cellars, a kitchen and a refectory. The monastery was famous for its three gardens, where magnificent flowers, melons and gourds, fruit trees grew. The most beautiful alleys were laid on its territory. Then, in these alleys, richly ornamented gravestones of the virgins of the monastery with laconic touching epitaphs were erected.

Destroyed in 1920 by Caucasian Turks (Azerbaijanis) during the massacre of Armenians in Shushi. Until 1967, the ruins remained intact, then, according to decision of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR, the ruined monastery were leveled to the ground.