From Medieval Church Ornament to Soviet Architectural Composition: Reinterpretation of Armenian National Heritage

Abstract

The present article develops a more focused analysis of medieval Armenian church ornament that was reinterpreted in the architectural composition of Soviet-era buildings in Armenia. It is based on the author’s previous study “Manifestations of Ancient and Medieval Armenian Ornamentation in the Architecture of Armenia of the Soviet Period,” which surveyed a broader range of ancient and medieval ornamental motifs and their presence in Soviet Armenian architecture. The present study narrows the analytical field to ornament derived from medieval churches and examines not only its occurrence but also the ways in which floral and vegetal, geometric, and zoomorphic forms were transformed through stylization, abstraction, changes in scale and material, and compositional integration. Particular attention is given to the transition of ornament from sacred architectural contexts into secular public, institutional, monumental, and urban environments. Through comparative visual analysis, field observation, architectural documentation, and the study of historical sources, the research identifies recurring mechanisms of reinterpretation: the monumentalization of vegetal motifs, the conversion of geometric patterns into compositional and structural systems, and the abstraction of zoomorphic imagery into symbolic sculptural elements. The analysis demonstrates that the revival of medieval ornament in Soviet Armenia involved more than the preservation of recognizable motifs; it entailed their adaptation to new architectural functions, materials, scales, and aesthetic conditions. The paper therefore contributes a more detailed specification of ornament as an active component of architectural composition and as a mediator between medieval visual heritage, modern architectural language, and the cultural memory of Soviet Armenia. Finally, the article reveals that the combination and incorporation of medieval Armenian ornaments into Soviet architecture served not only as a means of preserving cultural and national identity but also as a response to the socio-political narratives of Armenia at the time. This synthesis resulted in a unique architectural dialogue and, through its remarkable architectural creations, marked a new epoch in the centuries-old history of Armenian architecture.