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The Armenian Bell Tower, the XV-XVI �entury. Preservation Number #750/1 | Foto
1 Virmens'ka St.

In 1062, the Armenians, which had taken part in the campaigns of the Russian princes against the Polovtsi, settled in ��myanets'-Podil's'kyi and other towns of Rus'. The documents testify, that in the XIV century, there was large Armenian community in Kamyanets'-Podil's'kyi.
The main occupation of the Armenians was trade and handycraft. Their jewelry, decorated weapons and clothers were very famous. There was a trade route to the Crimea, Kafa and further to the East through ��myanets'-Podil's'kyi from L'viv. That is why it was possible to meet merchants from different countries of the world in the Armenian market.
Not far from this market, a stone Armenian Church was built in the �V century, �nd the next century a Bell Tower was built separately. Like Sutkovets'ka Church of Yarmolynets'kyi Rayon, it supposed to be defensive installation.
The Armenian Bell Tower, well of the XVII �entury, firm of the XVIII �entury, that have remained till today, testify to high level of culture of the Armenian people at that time. In 1956, the Bell Tower entered the register of the monuments of architecture of the republican value.

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Armenian Bell Towers

The Bell Tower of the Armenian Cathedral in Kamyanets'-Podil's'kyi is considered to be the architectural dominant of the Armenian blocks of the city. The five-storied building may be seen from all the sides while approaching it. According to the archive and literal sources, it was built at the end of the XV - at the beginning of the XVI centuries by the Armenian colonists of Kamyanets' in the Renaissance Style.
During the Turkish occupation in 1672-1699, the Armenian Church has been ruined a lot. It is possible, that the Bell Tower was not ruined to such extend. That is why, in 1700, a chapel of the Saint Stephan was made in it. In the XIX century, there were two bells on it - the small one, of 1701, and large, of 1722. To the opinion of the specialists, it is one of the most interesting Armenian monuments of the city, in which different architectural methods and high level of the artistic design are combined. Unfortunately, a lot of them are ruined by time and we know about these monuments only from the written sources. The Armenian Bell Tower is among few, that remained to present.
Laconic by its shape, building of the bell tower fits in the building up of the city with its numerous monuments of architecture. The Tower has a special look because of the pyramidal hipped roof with four little towers on corners, and small semispherical domes. There are two loopholes in every tower. Even while building the religious buildings, architects of Kamyanets' could not forget about defense of the city. The shingle roofing harmonizes with a severe architecture of the Tower. The Armenian monuments of the city is always in the field of vision of the researches. In 1958, the restoration of the Bell Tower was made. In 1978, it was studied by the experts from Kyiv. The researches managed to reveal the analogical architectural elements of this building with the Amenapkrich Church in Sanayin. But, the consequences of the research of the first floor of the Bell Tower are the most interesting. The remnants of the painting, done in red and ochre colours were revealed on the southern and northern walls of the building.
According to the character and style technique, the revealed painting may be dated by the period not later than the XVIII century. The restoration was carried out by the group of restorers from the Kyiv restoration workshop under the direction of Arkadiy Yosypovych Marampol's'kyi. This year restoration of the painting will be completed. According to the plan of passing of the objects of the Reserve the exposition "The Armenian and Ukrainian" is planning to be exhibited.


Translated by Yana Anufriyeva
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