Saint Hripsime Church (Khnatsakh)

Saint Hripsime Church (Khnatsakh), Armenian Apostolic Church, located in the village of Khnatsakh in the Syunik Province. It was built in the 17th century. The church is a three-nave basilica structure with a gabled roof and side altars on both sides of the apse. It has two entrances—on the south and west sides. In 1701, an open narthex was built adjoining the church on the western side; it is made of hewn basalt and also has a gabled roof. In 1905, a bell tower was also built on top of the roof, which is likewise made of hewn basalt. The church is constructed with rubble stones, while the arches, window, and door openings are made of hewn basalt. The roofs of the church and the narthex are laid with basalt slabs. During the years of Soviet atheism, the church was desecrated and used as a storage facility. Due to the steep slope of the terrain, the northern side’s arches have sunk into the soil layer.