Mastara Church — Cross-Wing Central Square 5th Century

Why it mattersKey Early Armenian central square cross-wing church (Mastara type prototype) temple-complex with stratified sequence and regional typology.

Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.

Built

c. 640 CE (5th core 450–640)

Period

Early Christian (5th c. c. 640 Mastara St John, mixed 5th core)

Culture

Early Armenian central square cross-wing church (Mastara type prototype)

Purpose

Central cross-square church (Central 12 m inner, outer 20 m) with squinch vaults and 5th-c Greek-Armenian bilingue — earliest central plan after Ejmiatsin 5th central

Rediscovered

Modern excavation 1890

Excavation

Partially excavated

1. c. 1200 CE major extension

   Major expansion / refurbishment at Mastara Church — Cross-Wing Central Square 5th Century

2. c. 640 CE (5th core 450–640)

   Initial construction / first occupation at Mastara Church — Cross-Wing Central Square 5th Century

3. 1890 excavation

   Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Mastara Church — Cross-Wing Central Square 5th Century

• Mastara Church — Cross-Wing Central Square 5th Century — Principal Temple

  temple

  temple at Mastara Church — Cross-Wing Central Square 5th Century — hydraulic feature

  40.4487° N · 43.8809° E

• Mastara Church — Cross-Wing Central Square 5th Century — Altar Annex 2

  altar

  altar at Mastara Church — Cross-Wing Central Square 5th Century — primary structure

  40.4480° N · 43.8797° E

• Mastara Church — Cross-Wing Central Square 5th Century — Southern Shrine

  shrine

  shrine at Mastara Church — Cross-Wing Central Square 5th Century — subsidiary complex

  40.4520° N · 43.8780° E