OLD SHINUHAYR
A Historic Settlement Preserved in the Vorotan Gorge
Old Shinuhayr is situated in Armenia’s Syunik Province, below the present-day village of Shinuhayr, on the steep slopes of the Vorotan Gorge. Its stone houses, narrow roads, churches and cemeteries form a complete historical environment in which the settlement appears to descend towards the gorge in a series of terraces. For centuries, the inhabitants adapted to the difficult mountain landscape, using the cliffs and natural slopes as part of their residential and defensive system.
Shinuhayr is one of Syunik’s oldest settlements. It has been mentioned in written sources since at least the beginning of the 10th century under the names Shnher and Shinoi Herk. It belonged to the historic district of Haband and was regarded as one of the region’s larger and more significant villages. The later popular interpretation of the name Shinuhayr as the “father of settlements” also reflects the community’s reputation for antiquity and importance.
The old village was constructed in direct response to the terrain of the gorge. Houses stood at different elevations and were connected by stone steps, narrow paths and retaining walls. Cellars, livestock shelters, small gardens and service areas were located beside the homes. This arrangement demonstrates that the inhabitants did not simply endure the challenging landscape; they transformed it into an organised and sustainable communal environment.
At the centre of the settlement stands the 17th-century, three-nave Church of Saint Stepanos. Beside it lies the historic cemetery known as “Khacher,” where medieval tombstones and khachkars have survived, including an outstanding monument dated to 1261. The southern part of the settlement contains Kusanats Anapat, a 17th-century women’s monastery and centre of manuscript culture. These monuments demonstrate that Shinuhayr was not merely a residential village but also a developed spiritual and cultural centre.
A manuscript tradition also flourished in Shinuhayr. Scribes and copyists worked around its churches and monastic institutions, preserving and transmitting religious and educational texts. The history of the old village is also connected with the 18th-century liberation movement of Syunik. Davit Bek used Shinuhayr as one of his early bases, while the settlement’s fortified position contributed to the defence of the region.
During the Soviet period, a new village developed on the flatter and more accessible plateau above the gorge. The inhabitants gradually relocated there, and the old settlement became deserted. Nevertheless, its ruined houses, roads, churches, monastery and cemeteries preserved the structure and memory of the former community.
The importance of Old Shinuhayr is not limited to its individual monuments. It is a complete historical settlement demonstrating how the people of Syunik combined nature, architecture, faith and daily labour over many centuries. Preserved on the slopes of the Vorotan Gorge, the village remains an expressive testimony to Syunik’s settlement culture, spiritual life and historical continuity.