Hovhannes Draskhanakertsi headed the catholicos throne during an epochal historical period, when the newly created Armenian statehood faced difficult external and internal challenges, and the church was severely tested. The conflicts of the ruling houses, characteristic of the era of developed feudalism, divided Armenia and undermined its political integrity. This situation posed a real threat to the independence and confessional independence of the Armenian Church. Therefore, the Armenian Patriarch supported the efforts aimed at preserving the political unity of Armenia at any cost.

Keywords Ovannes Draskhanakertci Smbat I Ashot the Iron Yusouf solidarity conciliatory mediation princes inter-princely confrontations political integrity ideologist persecution correspondence Byzantium Dvin Vaspurakan Arab raids.

Sotk village is located in the south-east of Gegharkunik province of the Republic of Armenia. According to Stepanos Orbelyan, the name of the settlement originates from the name of the cold wind blowing from the mountain pass to Sevan. The Armenian identity of medieval Sotk is evidenced not only by about two dozen Armenian medieval written sources, but also by historical monuments in the vicinity of the village – churches, khachkars, Armenian inscriptions. The church of Sotk belonged to the Diocese of the Makenyats Monastery of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which was one of the oldest orders of the Armenian Church.

KeywordsSotk Middle Ages culture Christianity monuments excavations fortress church khachkar inscription princely family.

Tatev monastery is one of the famous spiritual-cultural centers of medieval Armenia, the main St. Paul-Peter (895–906) temple of which was built on the site of an early medieval dilapidated church. The cornices of the eastern twin niches of the temple, as well as one for each of the northern and southern windows of St. Paul-Peter temple of Tatev monastery, are decorated with ktitor sculptural portraits and with the reliefs of dragon-snakes (except for the southern cornice) symbolizing their protection.

KeywordsTatev monastery St. Paul-Peter temple reliefs St. Orbelyan St. Mnatsakanyan sculptural portrait dragon-snake niche cornice prince vardpet (stonemason) Yeghia.

In the result of the conducted research, we added the sixth branch to the five ones of the ruling royal princes of Syunik – branch of princes of the province of Arevik. The basis for this was the inscription on the khachkar installed in the southern corner of the eastern wall of the Church of St. Stepanos in the village of Vank restored in 1554, Meghri region. This inscription, dated 902, mentions “Lord Smbat”. According to the research and purchase contracts of the Tatev Monastery for the period from 839 to 891, the title of “Lord” was borne by diocesan bishops and throne princes. The same Smbat is mentioned on the khachkar, dated 911, which was erected in the rural area of Lichkvaz in the region of Meghri.

Keywords Syunik Arevik Meghri throne prince church khachkar inscription