vahearmenia: Օձունի եկեղեցի, Basilica of Odzun

Օձունի եկեղեցի, Basilica of Odzun in sketchup:

3D Model by

The first church appeared here in the 6th century. In the 8th century it was reconstructed by Hovhannes III Odznetsi (Armenian: Հովհաննես Գ Օձնեցի) who served as the katholikos between 717 and 728 and was, as
his name suggests, from Odzun. This is the time the church got its current form of a pink felsite basilica with three naves, the two side naves being narrow. At the northern (not preserved anymore) and southern side there are unusual arcaded cloisters and the west cloister has a blind wall with an arched entrance in the middle. The roof is barrel vaulted. Four columns support the rib vaulted tambour and there are two more columns at the western part of the church. At the eastern façade above the central window one can observe a carving of Christ with the gospel of St. John and two angels below. At the southern façade, at each side of the central window there are two angels and traces of another figure, probably Christ. Much later, in the 19th century two small belltowers were added.