11111Zamca monastery is a fortified medieval complex, considered the most important religious edifice built by the Armenian community in Suceava. It was built in 1606 by the Armenians refugees in Moldavia, settled here since the 14th century. Built on a plateau from the western side of the city, the building has an excellent strategic positioning. The complex is enclosed by walls in irregular quadrangle (trapezoidal) form, reinforced with internal and external counterforts without defense towers. Archeological research, conducted here during 1954 – 1956, attested that the foundation period of the church’s walls, western building, as well as the enclosure wall lies within the first half of the 17th century.
11111In 1608, the Armenian traveler Simeon Lehatzí (‘from the country Leh’, i.e. Poland) mentioned the complex of Zamca, which henceforth must have been completed at that time.
11111The spiritual center was placed under the protection of Saint Oxénd (Auxentius). During the anti-Ottoman campaign of John III Sobieski from 1690 – 1691, the monastery was occupied by polish and used as garrison. This misfortune changed its name once and for all (derived from ‘zamek’, with the plural ‘zamki’, meaning stronghold).
11111For more than 130 years Zamca monastery remained under foreign rule. After the annexation of Northern Moldavia by the Austrians (1775) it was taken over by Austrian state in 1809 and the imperial government used St. Auxentius church as munition deposit. Only in 1827 the monastery was regained by Armenians through processes.
11111After other archeological research in 1957 – 1965, part of the architectural ensemble was rehabilitated, the ruined walls being rebuilt. Nowadays, the church was renovated; the belfry and the chapel were reconditioned and covered in stone; enclosure walls were exalted and covered with sheet-metal in order to prevent water infiltration. Religious services are held weekly, the monastery lacking an active monastic life. Big pilgrimages are organized on St. Mary’s celebrations.
11111Regarding the construction of the complex, the Armenian legend mentions three brothers as its founders (Hagop, Auxent and Grigor). They bought this land in 1606. First of all they built St. Jacob chapel, placed on the western side, second the church dedicated to St. Auxentius and third the chapel dedicated to St. Gregory the Illuminator from the bell tower. Therefore, the architectural ensemble comprises three buildings (the main church, St. Auxentius; the 26 meters high bell tower, on the eastern side; the chapel, situated at the first floor on the west side, where is the entrance to the monastery).
11111St. Auxentius church was built in stone after a rectangular plan, being divided in narthex, nave and altar. The edifice has no lateral apsides; instead it has two counterforts on both sides. At the exterior, the church has a simple architectural style. A pair of octagonal counterforts supports the walls of the nave on both sides. The decoration combines elements of gothic and classical tradition with new motifs of oriental influence (rosettes). Exterior architecture, of great simplicity, is typical for the period of transition from fully painted buildings to a new, yet undefined style. Enclosure wall form a lengthened trapezoid with sides supported here and there by counterforts. Parallel sides reach the height of 59 meters respectively 66 meters and the two other 70 meters and 74 meters. Wall thickness is of one meter and the height reaches in some places 4 meters. The place of worship has two entrances: one on the western side of the narthex (as it is also at orthodox churches) and the second one on the northern side of the nave. The squared narthex is vaulted with a globe calotte supported on four arches. Inside the narthex the partition wall has two windows on both sides of the door. The nave vaulting is typically for Moldavian style. On the right wall of the nave there are still preserved traces of the original painting. One can observe the presence of three altars, according to the topography of the Armenian churches, with a central altar in the central apsis and two secondary altars disposed in side niches equipped with stone slabs. The iconostasis was replaced with a simple curtain hanging from a transversal beam. In the middle of the nave is the tombstone of Agopsha (from Hagóp – James) Vartan on which is written the following inscription: „This is the funeral memorial of Agopsha, son of Amir [the prince], he is the founder of this holy church, he died in 1051, according to the Armenian era [1602 AD]”.
11111The bell tower is a building with square base side situated on the eastern side of the enclosure wall. It is equipped with entrance gangway, displaying similar volumetrics with contemporary counterparts (such as the belfry in Dragomirna monastery) but a much more lavish decoration. On the keystone of the eastern arcade of the bell tower entrance is mentioned the construction year: 1606. The tower has 26 meters height and initially had a vaulted entrance which was subsequently closed.
11111It seems that the building on the western side of the enclosure wall had been used as bishopric residence for the Armenian Diocese of Suceava. The rectangular shape edifice has at the ground floor a vaulted alleyway through were the access in the monastery is made, having two rooms (one both sides of the entrance) which served as cells. At the first floor was the St. Mary chapel (on the north side) and two cells. The second floor of the southern wing was added later, being proved by the fact that the exterior decoration and especially the wire-drawn flange on the chapel frame continues on the more recent building with another type of decoration.
11111St. Mary chapel includes a nave and an altar constructed in a Moldavian style. The entire building, but particularly the chapel, was decorated with various ornamental elements having as central motif a large groove interrupted by circular scratches, on their groundwork being placed small embossed rosettes. Above the chapel is a small octagonal steeple with four windows with framings in the arcades from the four cardinal points. Under the eaves the chapel is surrounded by a flange of indented bricks.
11111Since 1994 consolidation work was made in order to strengthen the entire complex. In 2004, the church has been consecrated anew, entering the cult as parish church; the pilgrimage which the dedication day of Hadjgadar brings about each year equally reaches this landmark of the local Armenian spirituality. Unfortunately, a residential complex erected nearby threatens the preservation and appropriate valorization of such crucial component of the national cultural heritage.