The monastery Khotakerats is a 10th century architectural monument near Khachik village of Vayots Dzor province, Republic of Armenia. Built by princes’ family of Syunik, the monastery was a place that gathered fasting recluses (“khotaker” in Armenian) living in the vicinity, and this is where the name of the monastery has come from.

 

In 1300 Eachi Proshian, the prince of Syunik, entrusted to create a three-leaved silver reliquary for keeping the relic of Jesus Christ’s Holy Cross. The reliquary took the name of the monastery and so is called “Khotakerats Sourb Nshan”. The upper part of the reliquary depicts Jesus Christ with stately angels on both sides. The flaps on the outside have the images of St Gregory the Illuminator and St John the Baptist, and on the inside – the images of angels. The gem-fitted cross is in the center. The lower part of the reliquary depicts the prince Eachi, whose memorial record is engraved on the back side of the reliquary.

 

Khotakerats Sourb Nshan is a brilliant example of not only Armenian but also of medieval jewelry art in general.