The Church of Saint Sarkis provides a concrete architectural anchor for the history of Argavand. For a broader regional perspective, fruit growing and wine in the Ararat Province also come into view. The thematic scope thus ranges from a village church that can be dated to agricultural traditions and seasonal produce.
Church of Saint Sarkis: Building History and Architecture
The church stands in the village center and was completed on August 19, 1897. The inscription above the north entrance gives this date; the building was constructed with donations from Armenian believers. The date marks the completion of construction, while the donations identify the community’s contribution to its funding. This makes it possible to distinguish the date from the story of how the church came to be.
The church is built of gray tuff and has a three-aisled layout. A three-aisled floor plan divides the interior into three longitudinal aisles; the term therefore refers to the spatial arrangement. The architecture also includes an entrance on the north side and another on the west side. The material, floor plan, and entrances describe different aspects: the building material, the interior layout, and the position of the access points. Those interested in architectural forms can consider these features separately.
The church was reconstructed in 1997. It also received a bell tower, whose construction was made possible by the efforts and financial contributions of local residents. The building history thus includes a dated completion in the 19th century and a later reconstruction; local involvement in the bell tower is another important detail.
Fruit and Wine in the Ararat Province
The Ararat Province is characterized by apricot and peach orchards. Seasonal stalls sell fresh and dried fruit, as well as preserves; local wineries also produce wine. This regional selection brings fruit growing and winemaking together. The stalls offer various forms of fruit: fresh, dried, or made into preserves.
The stalls are seasonal, and individual stalls or wineries may change. If you plan to seek out particular products or a specific winery, check what is currently available before your trip.
The Ararat Province lies in the Ararat Valley. The valley is considered an important center for the domestication of grapevines and for viticulture. The area is reported to account for 30 percent of Armenia’s vineyards; later studies may revise this figure. The number puts viticulture in a regional context and complements the overview of individual products and wineries.
Domestication refers to the development of a wild plant into a cultivated plant; in the case of grapevines, it concerns the emergence of the cultivated vine. Viticulture, by contrast, describes the cultivation of grapevines. The two terms show that the regional context relates both to the development of the grapevine and to its cultivation.
Discover more destinations: Ayntap, Shahumyan, Urtsadzor
For the overview of the wider region: Ararat.
