BJNI (Բջնի) | Kotayk Marz | Armenia BJNI (Armenian: Բջնի) is a village in the Kotayk Marz (Province) of Armenia. It is situated in a valley between canyon walls and a small river. The first recorded mention of the village was by the 5th- to 6th-century chronicler and historian Ghazar Parpetsi. The French traveler Sharden visited Bjni in 1673, in 1770, it was visited by the traveler Turenfor. During the middle ages Bjni was one of the most important centers of education in Armenia. Some manuscripts in Armenian from Bjni dated to the 12th to 17th centuries have survived. The largest of the churches and the most important representative of middle age architecture is Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) church, which is situated just in the middle of the village, built in 1031 by Grigor Magistros. Unique and original, this church has stone shelves built 5m high stretching around the walls. It was reconstructed in 1947. The Fortress of Bjni was built in the 9th-10th centuries by the Pahlavuni Princes in the village of Bjni. It was first mentioned by Armenian historian and chronicler Ghazar Parpetsi, in his “History of Armenia.” For many long years the fortress served as the primary fortification of the province of Nig, which protected and guarded Bjni. The fortress of Bjni is protected by rocks to the south, east and partially, to the west. On the north and west, the fortress was surrounded by pyramid-like walls. They are now half-ruined. The ruins and traces of various building-structures may be seen within the fortress. The walls of the fortress are visible only from the western side of the village of Bjni. In the 11th century, the lands of Bjni were passed to the Armenian Pahlavuni (Bagratuni) family and played a significant role in Armenian life during the Bagratuni Dynasty. Around this time, King Hovhannes-Smbat made the decision that the lands should become an Episcopal settlement. In 1066, the election for the Patriarch took place in Bjni. In the beginning of the 13th century, the lands were passed on to the Zakharyan family. The walls of the once impregnable Bjni Fortress may be seen from the Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) Church. Bjni was called “impregnable Bjni”, and “the place where the Gods live”, implying that the fortress was impossible to occupy. There is a legend according to which, the monastery and Bjni fortress were connected with a secret subterranean road broad enough so those besieged in the fortress were delivered food and drink. the secret was that the village of Bjni was connected to the neighboring village through three underground ways. This ensured that during attacks and invasions by the enemy, food could always be provided for the people. Bjni Fortress was built in the 9th-10th centuries by the Pahlavuni Princes who originated from the Bagratuni dynasty. The fortress was later reconstructed by Vasak-Holum Pahlavuni, the commander-in-chief of the Armenians. During the tenth century the village of Bjni was the residence of the commander. And also, in 1066 the election of the Catholicos of All Armenians was held in Bjni. The mentioned period is pictured in the “Chronicle” by Armenian historian Mathew of Edessa who, in all probability, began writing it in 1113 and completed in 1140. Written in a dialect of Western Armenian the work covers the events of the second half of the tenth century up to the second half of the twelfth century. The part regarding Bjni Fortress recounts the invasions of Turkish soldiers in 1021. It was then that Vasak learned that the entire district of Nig was enslaved. It was followed by the battle near the River of Qasagh. Feeling exhausted Vasak decided to rest at a mountain and while asleep the commander was struck and thrown off of a rock. The 14th century was also not promising for the Armenians and the fortress. In 1387-1388 Turkic Ruler Timur Lenk known as Tamerlane, whose main goal was to restore the Mongol Empire founded by Genghis Khan, destroyed the village of Bjni. Armenian cleric and chronicler Thomas of Metsoph left an account of Tamerlane’s invasions of the Caucasus, according to which Timur besieged the fortress of Bjni and killed the bishop of the land. Today, the remains of the 9th- to 10th-century Bjni Fortress of the Pahlavuni family, proudly sit along the top and sides of a mesa that divides the village almost in half. The larger portion of the village is located west of the mesa and curves south, while a smaller portion is to the east. The walls of the fortress may only be seen from the western side of the village, and are easiest reached via a dirt road that forks and goes up the side of the hill. At the top of the mesa, there are some sections of walls still preserved. They include; traces of where foundations had once been, the stone foundation of a church from the 5th century, a medieval structure that still stands (currently being rebuilt), two cisterns one with vaulting still partially intact, and a covered passage that leads to the river. Bjni is home to churches as well. The largest of the churches is Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) built in 1031, which sits within the village just west of the mesa. To the south of the church a few houses down, there is the small church of Surb Gevorg built in the 13th century. Interesting khachkars are built into the walls of the structure. On the eastern portion of the village atop a rock outcrop next to a modern cemetery is the church of Surb Sarkis built in the 7th century. It is the smallest of all of the churches. There are also three other chapels/shrines in the vicinity, one of which sits between the fortress and the village and is constructed of very large stones. armeniapedia.org/wiki/Bjni_Village mshakuyt/page-details.php?id=41&lang=en https://360yerevan/en/viewer/HistoryGuide/Anderground_tunnel/1380#/!/holy+mother+of+god+church+in+bjni+from+above/
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 21:58:15 +0000
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