Hakobavank

Hakobavank (Armenian: Հակոբավանք, lit. 'monastery of Hakob'), also known as Metsaranits Monastery (Armenian: Մեծառանից վանք), is an Armenian monastery, which is situated de facto in the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh and de jure in Azerbaijan. It is located near Kolatak village in Martakert Province.[1][2][3]

Hakobavank
Հակոբավանք Մեծառանից վանք
Hakobavank Monastery in 2015
Religion
Affiliation	Armenian Apostolic Church
Region	Martakert Province
Location
Location	1.5 km from the village of Kolatak
Country	Republic of Artsakh (de facto) Azerbaijan (de jure)
Shown within Azerbaijan Show map of Azerbaijan Hakobavank (Republic of Artsakh) Show map of Republic of Artsakh
Geographic coordinates	40.0156°N 46.6005°E / 40.0156; 46.6005
Architecture
Type	Monastery
Style	Armenian
Date established	V-VII centuries
Completed	XI-XII centuries
Website
www.hakobavank.am

Hakobavank was established in the V-VII centuries. It acquired its final form by the XI-XII centuries. In the XIV century the Monastery became the Deaconry of Mets Arank (Metsarants) province. The complex was named after St. Hakob Mtsbnetsi, who professed Christianity in Armenia, and whose relics were kept in the monastery until the XIX century.[1]

There is no information about the date of foundation of the monastery. The oldest inscription, carved on the pedestal of a khachkar (cross-stone), refers to 853. According to the historical chronicles the monastery buildings were built, rebuilt and reconstructed periodically in IX-XVIII centuries. One of the manuscript kept in Matenadaran says that Metsaranits church was rebuilt by Khorinshah Zakarian.[2]