ODZOUN BASILICA

10 kilometers north of Toumanian, which owes its name to the man of Armenian letters of the nineteenth century who lives there, we must turn left at the village of Odzoun. On a green plateau overlooking the Canyon du Débét, some peasant houses dominated by an ancient church, which would have been built in the life century, as indicated in its resolutely basilica plan. It is a long building, large ochre stones, including the nef and the bedside of an arcade gallery. The bedside is also adorned by the side of the nineteenth century. The sculpted decor, which has been altered by time, is of great sobriety, both inside and inside, where the dome resting on four thick pillars and the high vaults give an impression of elevation.

North of the church, an unusual monument: a double arcade of pink tuf perched on a pedestal of several steps; between arcades are fine staples which must be looked at closely; they are sensitive bas-reliefs, the reasons for which differ on each of their four sides: plant motifs, geometrical or christological scenes. The church's donors would also be represented alongside a pig-headed figure or boar, which could be King Trdat III, who was metamorphosed into beast before conversion to Christianity. This monument, which is probably commemorative, dates back to the seventh century and still bears Greco-Roman influence.