ՀՈՎՀԱՆՆԱՎԱՆՔԻ ՍՈՒՐԲ ԿԱՐԱՊԵՏ ԵԿԵՂԵՑՈՒ ՇՔԱՄՈՒՏՔԻ ՀԱՐԹԱՔԱՆԴԱԿԻ ԱՌԱՆՁՆԱՀԱՏԿՈՒԹՅՈՒՆԸ

ՃԱՐՏԱՐԱՊԵՏՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ

Abstract

The paper is devoted to one of the most remarkable monuments in medieval Armenia – the Hovannavank Cathedral. The unique feature of the cathedral is the relief with the depiction of the parable of the wise and foolish virgins on the tympanum of the western portal. An attempt is made to reveal the similarities between iconic type of Jesus and the whole evangelical plot from Hovannavank Cathedral and some other gothic cathedrals. Deviating significantly from the generally accepted techniques of iconography, Armenian masters portrayed the virgins like bearded young man, which is to show that they were open to iconographic innovations. The symbolic meaning of this parable and also the iconographic concept of the relief in Hovannavank seen to be the result of the spiritual and intellectual life of the time.