"Early in 21st century it was 1700 anniversary of Tatev village".
Syunik has its particular place in Armenian history, which is full of dramatic events.
Syuniants family had its respectable disposition among the ministerial houses in Old Armenia. It was not only the active participator of political life of the country, it also played decisive role. Tzghuk was one of the regions of historical Syunik, which sometimes was called
Syunik or Sisakan. Tzghuk was the main seat for Syuniants princes and was situated in the center of Syuniants land, separated on the right bank of Vorotan River. It included the whole right parted Sisian, some villages of western Goris and northen Kapan. At BC. Shaghat and Tatev had an important role in historical life of Tsghuk region. After adaptation of Christianity in Armenia, Tatev's role was continuosly raising and at the first millennium AD it became the holy political and cultural center not only for the whole region, but for all Syunik Land, and stayed that way for a long time.
The origin of Tatev isn't known, though the historical facts certify that this ancient residence had existed before the third century, AD. "Tatevyanq"; as a power kin, were mentioned in Nerses's letter to throne. This concludes that Tatev was an ancient power residence before the polytheism. There were traditions, about the origin of Tatev connected with the name of Evstatev or Statevos as a student of St. Thaddeus, who introduced Christianity to Syunik at the end of the third century. At times Statevos had been modified as Tatev. "Tatev " is also mentioned in Eghishe's letter to throne in the beginning of the 4-th century.
Two circumstances played an important role in the growth of Tatev authority: the natural extravagant beauty and inconceivable propitious position, which is like an unassailable castle and the church being built there, which besides becoming the holy center of Eastern Armenia, was also the biggest scientific and cultural center.
There is a note about a church in the III century, then the name of Tatev wasn't mentioned anywhere untill the IV century.
The upland, where Tatev and the monastery of the same name were built is one of the most picturesques and unique places and is considered to be a miracle of nature. The mountain surrounded the hill on three sides, leaving a narrow eastern space looking into the boundless distance, a rock, under which a river drops down into a deep ravine. The valley seems menacing and unreachable, a mountain is rising to the sky in the southern-west, which is named after Aramazd: the father of the pagan Gods. A person who visits Tatev for the first time feels her/himself on the roof of the world and its as if the earth ends after Aramazd.
So, where an opened area is made by the edges of the mountain chain, a rocky peninsula extended triangularly on a deep precipice. And as an addition to the natural miracle a handiwork wonder was done: famous Tatev monastery was built.
Then since X century a number of buildings has been built as in the monastery and its surroundings, also far from it. Besides churches, oil mine (Dzitahanq), Tatev Grand Anapat (Desert) church, and a new church in the village was built and Waterline was brought from the mountains to the monastery.
A long time before these buildings were built, in 932 Tatev abbots Hakob Bishop bought "Vararak" water (now "Akner") with 12000 drums and brought it to the place named Tsaqut, where grade, pomegranate, fig, almond, alive, and other fruits trees were planted.
Tsaqut observatory was built on a big hill, which remains untill now half ruined. The holy and secular life in Tatev didn't list so long, in the first period of XI century Tatev was ruined by Seljuk's for the first time. In a century when Baghabrd and Baghants Kingdom was enraptured, Tatev was also seized. The Turks plundered the monastery. An unique cultural treasure: 10000 manuscripts created within 300 years were stolen. It is impossiblet to imagine the value of this manuscripts.
The monastery again came back to life and blossomed in the governing period of Zaqaryans (in the end of XII century) and the next XIII-XIV centuries Tatev monastery became the meaningful educational center of Armenia. In these centuries Tatev fame increased more owing to the university that was some level up comparing to Gladzor, which had stopped to exist and which was called "second Atenq" in time, but also some European universities. But again a new stab in the back brought Lank Tumor.
In XV century the band of bloodsucker Lank-Tamor reached Tatev and set fire to the temples and stole the treasures of the monastery. He plundered the whole library. They destroyed all the holy-chipped stones from the monastery walls and took to Samarghand, where a monument was built by his order. It is difficult to say what happened in the next XVI-XVII centuries. There is nothing in the history about this land.
At the beginnings of XVII century Tatev was in a circle of Armenain liberation movement. Some heroic events of David Bek liberial struggle took place here. But at the end of the century Tatev paid dear for its Freedom-loving.
In 1782 Fataly Khan attacked Tatev, but couldn't seize the monastery. Using Iranian slyness he decived the friary not to touch anyone, if they allowed him to see the monastery with peace. Fataly Khan and his band came in and annihilated everybody, who believed his oath and stole the monastery treasure. In 1796 Agha Mohamed Khan raced to the monastery and plundered everything and dispersed the Friary.
It is clear, that Tatev has had a meaningful role in life of Armenia. In 1828 according to the agreement, signed in Turky, a part of Armenia was joined with Russia. Only at the time Tatev was freed of protected persecution of foreign despots.
But soon Tatev lost his political meaning. In 1887 Syunik parent state was enraptured and the state was united with Yerevan State. Losing political role Tatev hadn't stopped to have religion rules. In 1920 after establishment of Soviet Armenia Tatev monastery thoroughly lost its holy and educational role. In 1931 earthquake ruined empty superb building and only ruins remained. In the past Tatev village wasn't so large, it has about 250-280 families with a population of about 2000 people, and was situated in the canyon to the north-west of present village place. Still at the middle of the 18-th century it was situated East of its present location, it was surrounded with ramparts and the graveyard was in the East of it.
Over a 100 years Tatev expended to the South and East and St. Minas church was built to the West of the central village. There is not very much information about Tatev history, and if there is anything they need an investigation. But it is clear what kind of connection it had with meaningful historical places in Armenia and out of it. The hard taxes and rough life conditions in all appearance often made the population of this land to emigrate. There are many historical notes about the villages situated in Tatev and surroundin g it. But either their ruins remained or they disappeared wholy.
The villages were as followed: Tamalesk, Tashun, Tzatzard, Aghandzy, Tsuran, and etc. There is an attestation in a handwriting certificate about immigration to Zmyurnia before XVIII century, but the exact date isn't known. It is clear during centuries how hard life conditions Tatev village had, and it is clear also that nothing positive changed since the establishment of Soviet Armenia
After World War II, much changed in Tatev. Instead of earthen and half-earthen houses (Gharadama) with plot of lands attached to the houses new two-floored stony tiny-covered, lighthouses were built. A secondary school, hospital, Bakery and cultural center were built in Tatev. It got electricity and TV and Radio connection. From Goris to Tatev a new road was built which helped to increase the number of curious tourists".