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{{Short description|Monastery}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox religious building
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| native_name           = Նորավանք
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| image                 = Noravank.JPG
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| caption               = Surb Astvatsatsin and Surb Karapet Churches with Surb Grigor's Chapel to the right, Noravank
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| location              = Amaghu Valley, [[Vayots Dzor Province]], [[Armenia]]
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| religious_affiliation = [[Armenian Apostolic Church]]
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'''Noravank''' ({{langx|hy|Նորավանք}}, {{lit|new monastery}}) is a 13th-century [[Armenian Apostolic Church|Armenian]] monastery, located 122&nbsp;km from [[Yerevan]] in a narrow [[Canyon|gorge]] made by the Amaghu River, near the town of [[Yeghegnadzor]] in [[Armenia]]. The gorge is known for its tall, sheer, brick-red [[cliff]]s, directly across from the monastery. The monastery is best known for its two-storey Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) Church, which grants access to the second floor by way of a narrow stone-made staircase jutting out from the face of building.

The monastery is sometimes called Noravank at Amaghu, with Amaghu being the name of a small and nowadays abandoned village above the canyon, in order to distinguish it from [[Bgheno-Noravank]], near [[Goris]]. In the 13th–14th centuries the monastery became a residence of [[Syunik (historic Armenia)|Syunik]]'s [[bishop]]s and, consequently, a major religious and, later, cultural center of Armenia closely connected with many of the local seats of learning, especially with [[University of Gladzor|Gladzor's famed university]] and library.

== History ==
[[File:Noravanq plan.jpg|thumb|Plan of Noravank]]
Noravank was founded in [[1105]] by Bishop Hovhannes, a former abbot of [[Vahanavank]] near the present-day city of Kapan in [[Syunik Region|Syunik]]. The monastic complex includes the church of S. Karapet, S. Grigor [[chapel]] with a vaulted hall, and the church of S. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God). Ruins of various civil buildings and [[khachkars]] are found both inside and outside of the compound walls. Noravank was the residence of the [[Orbelian Dynasty|Orbelian]] princes. The architect Siranes and the miniature painter and sculptor [[Momik]] worked here in the latter part of the thirteenth and early fourteenth century.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-13 |title=Noravank Monastery: Complete Travel Guide with Tips & More! |url=https://absolutearmenia.com/noravank-monastery/ |access-date=2023-07-20 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Noravank Complex ==
[[File:Noravank-astvatsatin-facade-details-IMG 2037.JPG|thumb|200px|left|Façade of Surb Astvatsatsin Church]]
[[File:Noravank12.jpg|thumb|Approach to the monastery]]
[[File:Noravank10.jpg|thumb|200px|left|The back of the Astvatsatsin church]]
[[File:Monasterio Noravank, Armenia, 2016-10-01, DD 29.jpg|thumb|Surb Astvatsatsin Church of Noravank]]
[[File:Noravank kev1.jpg|thumb|left|A detail of the Astvatsatsin church]]
[[File:Noravanq4.jpg|thumb|Surb Karapet (St. John the Baptist) Church]]
[[File:Noravank-Karapet-facade-IMG 2016.JPG|thumb|left|The façade of Surb Karapet Church with a depiction of God the Father (upper relief)]]
[[File:Elikum Orbelian tomb-IMG 2034.JPG|thumb|150px|Grave of Elikum III Orbelian, son of Prince Tarsaich Orbelian]]

The fortress walls surrounding the complex were built in the 17th–18th centuries.

=== Surb Astvatsatsin Church ===
The grandest structure is Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God), also called Burtelashen (Burtel's construction) in the honour of Prince Burtel Orbelian, its financier. It is situated to the south-east of the Surb Karapet church. Surb Astvatsatsin was completed in 1339, a masterpiece of the talented sculptor and miniaturist [[Momik]], who designed it, and was also his last work. Near the church there is his tomb khachkar, small and modestly decorated, dated the same year. In recent times the fallen roof had been covered with a plain hipped roof. In 1997 the drum and its conical roof was rebuilt, with the form based on existing fragments. However, it has been criticized as being a "fantasy reconstruction".<ref>Andreh Marouti, "Preservation of the Architectural Heritage of Armenia", 2018, page 372</ref>
The ground floor contained elaborate tombs of Burtel and his family. Narrow steps projecting from the west façade lead to the entrance into the church/oratory. There is fine relief sculpture over the entrance, depicting Christ flanked by Peter and Paul.

Burtelashen is a highly artistic monument reminiscent of the tower-like burial structures of the first years of Christianity in Armenia.  It is a memorial church. Its ground floor, rectangular in plan, was a family [[burial vault (tomb)|burial vault]]; the floor above, cross-shaped in plan, was a memorial temple crowned with a multi-columned rotunda.

Burtelashen is the dominant structure in Noravank. The original three-tier composition of the building is based on the increasing height of the tiers and the combination of the heavy bottom with the divided middle and the semi-open top. Accordingly, decoration is more modest at the bottom and richer at the top. Employed as decorative elements are columns, small arches, profiled braces forming crosses of various shapes, medallions, interlaced banding around windows and doors.

The western portal is decorated with special splendour. An important role in its decoration is played by the [[cantilevered stairs]] that lead to the upper level, with profiled butts to the steps. The doorways are framed with broad rectangular plaitbands, with ledges in the upper part, with columns, fillets and strips of various, mostly geometrical, fine and intricate patterns. Between the outer plathand and the arched framing of the openings there are representations of doves and sirens with women's crowned heads. Such reliefs were widely used in fourteenth-century Armenian art and in earlier times in architecture, miniatures and works of applied art, on various vessels and bowls. The entrance tympanums are decorated with bas-reliefs showing, on the lower tympanium, the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Holy Virgin]] with the Child and [[Archangel]]s [[Archangel Gabriel|Gabriel]] and [[Archangel Michael|Michael]] at her sides, and, on the upper tympanium, a half-length representation of Christ and figures of the Apostles Peter and Paul. As distinct from the reliefs of Noravank's vestry, these ones are carved on a plain surface, which gives them greater independence. The figures are distinguished by their plasticity of form, softness of modeling, and accentuation of certain details of clothing.

A group of the founders of Burtelashen is depicted on three columns of the western part of its rotunda. The picture consisted of relief figures of the Holy Virgin with the Child, sitting on a throne, and two standing men in rich attire, one of them holding a model of the temple.

=== Surb Karapet Church ===
The second church is the Surb Karapet, a cross within square design with restored drum and dome built in 1216–1227, just north of the ruins of the original Surb Karapet, destroyed in an earthquake. The church was built by the decree of Prince [[Liparit Orbelian]].

In 1340 an earthquake destroyed the dome of the church which in 1361 was reconstructed by the architect Siranes. In 1931 the dome was damaged during another earthquake.  In 1949, the roof and the walls of the church were repaired. In 1998 the roof and drum was rebuilt with the aid of an [[Armenian-Canadian]] family.

Forming the western antechamber is an impressive gavit of 1261, decorated with splendid khachkars and with a series of inscribed gravestones in the floor. Note the famous carvings over the outside lintel.  The church houses Prince [[Smbat Orbelian]]'s mausoleum.  The gavit was probably a four-pillar one. In 1321 the building, probably destroyed by an earthquake, was covered with a new roof in the shape of an enormous stone tent with horizontal divisions, imitating the wooden roof of the ''hazarashen''—type peasant home. This made the structure quite different from other Armenian monuments of the same kind. The ceiling has four rows of brackets forming stalactite vaulting with a square lighting aperture at the top. A broad protruding girth over the half-columns, the deep niches with khachkars and the low tent-like ceiling almost devoid of decoration give the dimly lit interior a gloomy look.

The exterior decoration focus' mainly on the western facade where the entrance to the building is. Framed in two rows of trefoils and an inscription, the semi-circular [[tympanum (architecture)|tympanum]] of the door is filled with an ornament and with a representation of the Holy Virgin seated on a rug with the Child and flanked by two saints. The ornament also has large letters interlaced by shoots with leaves and flowers. The Holy Virgin is sitting in the Oriental way with Child. The pattern of the rug is visible with drooping tassels. In Syunik temples of the thirteenth-fourteenth centuries the cult of the Holy Virgin was widely spread. She was depicted in relief, and many churches were dedicated to her.

The pointed tympanum of the twin window over the door is decorated with a unique relief representation of the large-headed and bearded [[God the Father#God the Father in Christianity|God the Father]] with large almond shaped eyes blessing the Crucifix with his right hand and holding in his left hand the head of [[John the Baptist]], with a dove — the Holy Spirit — above it. In the right corner of the tympanum there is a seraph dove; the space between it and the figure of the Father is filled with an inscription.

=== Surb Grigor Chapel ===
[[File:2014 Prowincja Wajoc Dzor, Klasztor Norawank, Kościół św. Jana Chrzciciela (18).jpg|thumb|Noravank horseman hunting a lion, late 13th to early 14th century]]
The side chapel of [[Gregory the Illuminator|Surb (Saint) Grigor]] was added by the architect '''Siranes''' to the northern wall of Surb Karapet church in 1275. The chapel contains more Orbelian family tombs, including a splendid carved lion/human tombstone dated 1300, covering the grave of Elikum son of Prince Tarsayich Orbelian. The modest structure has a rectangular plan, with a semi-circular altar and a vaulted ceiling on a wall arch. The entrance with an arched tympanum is decorated with columns, and the altar apse is flanked with khachkars and representations of doves in relief.

=== Khachkars ===
The complex has several surviving [[khachkar]]s. The most intricate of them all is a 1308 khachkar by Momik. Standing out against the carved background are a large cross over a shield-shaped rosette and salient eight-pointed stars vertically arranged on its sides. The top of the khachkar shows a [[Deesis]] scene framed in cinquefoil arches symbolizing a pergola as suggested by the background ornament of flowers, fruit and vine leaves.

=== Nature ===
The area is a part of the Gnisheek Prime Butterfly Area<ref name="Gnishik PBA">{{cite web |last1=Butterfly Conservation Armenia |title=Gnishik Prime Butterfly Area |url=https://www.butterfly-conservation-armenia.org/gnisheek.html |publisher=TSE NGO |access-date=23 January 2019}}</ref> and the [[Noravank Important Bird Area]].<ref name="Noravank IBA">{{cite web |last1=Armenian Bird Census |title=Noravank Important Bird Area |url=https://www.abcc-am.org/noravank.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123223653/https://www.abcc-am.org/noravank.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 23, 2019 |website=Armenian Bird Census |publisher=TSE NGO |access-date=23 January 2019}}</ref> A wide variety of animals and plants can be found here, such as the Bezoar Goat, [[Bearded Vulture]], [[Alexanor]] butterfly, and others.

{{Collapse top|Chronological History<ref>Amaghu Noravank', Documenti Di Architettura Armena, by Adriano Alpago Novello, Giulio Ieni, published in Milan, Italy in 1985.</ref>}}
'''Before the 9th century''' - According to historian [[Stepanos Orbelian]] a church dedicated to St. Pokas stands on the monastery site.

'''800-900''' - A church was built: sources call it St. Karapet's or Church of Svag Khoradzor. The name will later be transformed into Noravank (nor = new, vank = monastery), in 1221.

'''989''' - Hovhannes the Scribe copies a Gospel for the priest Stepanos. It is so called Gospel of [[Etchmiadzin Cathedral|Etchmiadzin]] that contains some miniated pages of an earlier date which are some of the oldest and most famous examples of Armenian miniature art.

'''1105''' - According to historian [[Stepanos Orbelian]] Bishop Hovhannes, abbot of the monastery of [[Vahanavank]], moves to Noravank and helps to found the first nucleus of monks at the monastery. His brother, Prince Hamtum, then comes to the monastery and helps to develop it. The monastery is to become rich: it will own the two fortresses of Anapat and Hraseka, along with twelve farms.

'''1154''' - Bishop Hovhannes dies and is buried in the monastery. According to the historian [[Stepanos Orbelian]], this bishop had founded a church and connected buildings; there is not trace of this complex left today.

'''1168''' - Bishop Grigoris of [[Syunik Province|Syunik]] dies and is buried in the monastery.

'''1170''' - Bishop Stepanos, son of Bishop Grigoris, settles in Noravank, choosing it as the seat of the bishopric. Hs is to obtain the Valley of Agarak and fortress of Anapat as donation to the monastery from Mongol Sultan Yelkduz, along with exception from taxes on church property.

'''1201''' - This date is found on a [[khachkar]] at the southern entrance of the Church of St. Karapet.

'''1216''' - Bishop Stepanos dies and is buried in the monastery. Father Sargis, his successor, shares the monastery's property with [[Tatev]].

'''1216-1221''' - Prince [[Liparit Orbelian]] and Bishop Sargis build a church in the monastery: sources refer to it as the Church of St. Stepanos Noravank (the [[protomartyr]]).

'''1221''' - Bishop Sargis, grandson of Archbishop Stepanos, builds the Church of St. Karapet as the burial chapel for the family. According to the historian [[Stepanos Orbelian]], the church was built by the will of [[Liparit Orbelian]], founder of the dynasty, and building work lasted seven years, ending in 1228. A [[khachkar]] in the west wall of the [[gavit]] is dedicated Nazar and Nazlu.

'''1222''' - A memorial to Vasak, who died of a premature death, is inscribed on a [[khachkar]] on the south wall of the [[gavit]].

'''1223''' - A Church of St. Stepanos is consecrated and Prince Bupak donates the village of Aghberis to the monastery to commemorate the occasion.

'''1223-1261''' - A [[gavit]] is built in the monastery.

'''13th century''' - Khatun, daughter of Khalkhashah, donates 300 pieces of silver and an orchard to the monastery.

'''1232''' - A certain Gorg makes various donations to the monastery.

'''1240''' - This date in on a [[khachkar]] inside the [[gavit]].

'''1256''' - A certain Shatluys donates an orchard to the monastery.

'''1260''' - Bishop Ter-Stepan of [[Syunik Province|Syunik]] dies and is buried in the monasteries [[gavit]].

'''1261''' - Prince [[Smbat Orbelian]] restores the monasteries [[gavit]], perhaps with the aid of Bishop Sargis and architect Siranes. There are two inscriptions on the [[gavit]] walls bearing the dates 1232 and 1256: this indicates that there was previously another building on the site, and its stones were used for the [[gavit]]. In this same year, [[Smbat Orbelian|Prince Smbat]] donates various goods to the monastery for the salvation of the soul of his brother, Prince Burtel. Near the [[khachkar]] in the [[gavit]] there is another, erected in memory of Burtel, son of Elikum, grandson of Liparit. Another [[khachkar]] recalls Burtel, son of "prince of princes" [[Smbat Orbelian|Smbat]].

'''1270-1290''' - This is the date on a [[khachkar]] inside the refectory-hospice that has now partially collapsed.

'''1271''' - A Noravank inscription mentions the name "hovatun" as being a building of unknown purpose.

'''Before 1273''' - An inscription reveals that the "prince of princes" [[Smbat Orbelian|Smbat]] has donated lands and orchards to the monastery.

'''1273''' - King Smbat dies: he was the elder brother of Prince Tarsaich and is buried in the monastery.

'''1273-1290''' - Bishop Sargis builds a hospice close to the monastery and donates various goods to it: the proceeds are used to provide pilgrims with food and drink.

'''1275''' - Prince Tarsaich builds a burial chapel for his brother Smbat and building, the work of architect Siranes, will subsequently house all family tombs.

'''1277''' - A [[khachkar]] is erected on the tomb of Prince Mahevan, son of Senekerim, King of Syunik.

'''1285''' - Kukor erects [[khachkar]] on the tombs of his brother Palka and his mother Aspi.

'''1287''' - [[Stepanos Orbelian]] becomes metropolitan of [[Syunik Province|Syunik]]. He is one of the most prestigious men of culture and politics in medieval Armenia. He is to leave numerous works of poetry and essays on history. He finally succeeds in uniting the monasteries of [[Tatev]] and Noravank.

'''2nd half of 13th century''' - A bridge is built to connect the monastery with the region.

'''1290''' - An inscription mentioning the death of the "prince of princes" Tarsaich can be seen at the east entrance of the chapel.

'''1291''' - Amira, grandson of Djurdj, buys an orchard for 4000 pieces of silver and donates it to the monastery.

'''1292''' - The architect-scribe [[Momik]] transcribes a beautiful Gospel for the brothers Hovhannes and Tadeos Princess Mina Khatun, daughter of King Djala of the Aghuank and wife of Tarsaich, donates many goods to the monastery.

'''1298''' - Ter Sargis, bishop of [[Syunik Province|Syunik]], dies and is buried in the monastery. Stepanos, bishop of [[Syunik Province|Syunik]] and son of "prince of princes" Tarsaich, makes an important donation to the monastery. Princess Mina Khatun is buried in the monastery.

'''1299''' - In the monastery of Noravank, metropolitan and historian [[Stepanos Orbelian]] finishes his great work entitled ''History of the Province of Syunik'' ({{Lang|xcl|Patmut'yun Nahangin Sisakan}}).

'''1300''' - [[Orbelian dynasty|Prince Elikum Orbelian]] dies and is buried in the monastery, in the Chapel of St Grigor; the tomb of the prince, son of Tarsaich, bears a human representation with a lion's tail and paws: these characteristics were attributed to him for his courage in war. [[Stepanos Orbelian]] finishes his poem "Lament on Behalf of the Cathedral" ("{{Lang|xcl|Voghb i dimats surb Katoghikeyin|italic=no}}").

'''1302''' - The architect-scribe [[Momik]] writes and miniates a Gospel for [[Stepanos Orbelian]].

'''1303''' - Metropolitan [[Stepanos Orbelian]] dies and is buried in the monastery. Sandjar, son of Tankarghul, donates an orchard to the monastery on the birth of his son.

'''1303-1324''' - The abbot of monastery is Hovhannes-Orbel, nephew of Prince Liparit. By his will, the architect [[Momik]] is to build the Church of [[Areni Church|St. Astvatsatsin]] at [[Areni]]. Also by his will, numerous codices are written in manuscript.

'''1304''' - [[Momik]] erects a [[khachkar]] to the memory of metropolitan [[Stepanos Orbelian]].

'''1305''' - An inscription on his tomb mentions the death of Bishop Grigor of [[Syunik Province|Syunik]].

'''1307''' - [[Momik]] and Poghos "vardapet" write and miniate a Gospel.

'''1308''' - Tamta Khatun, mother of Prince Burtel, erects a beautiful [[khachkar]] made by the architect [[Momik]].

'''1312''' - Tamta Khatun, mother of Prince Burtel, is buried in the chapel of King Smbat. Grigor, nephew of Prince Dop, donates various orchards to the monastery.

'''1318''' - Bughta, brother of Burtel, is buried in the chapel of King Smbat and a [[khachkar]] is erected in his memory.

'''1320-1322''' - The priest Sargis, nephew of Archbishop Stepanos of [[Syunik Province|Syunik]], builds the church of Noravank.

'''1321''' - St. Karapet's building is probably damaged by an earthquake.

'''1324''' - Hovhannes-Orbel, metropolitan of [[Syunik Province|Syunik]], dies and is buried in the monastery.

'''1324-1331''' - Stepanos Tarsaich Orbelian becomes abbot of the monastery. A student of chief [[vardapet]] Esayi Nshetsi of [[University of Gladzor]], he is to build the Zorats church in the region of [[Yeghegis]].

'''1331-1339''' - Prince Burtel, as is mentioned in the inscription on the west entrance, builds the Church of St. Astvatsatsin, the so-called "Burtelashen", in the monastery.

'''1333''' - The architect-sculpture-painter [[Momik]] dies and is buried in the monastery. The scribe Kiuron re-copies a manuscript by order of Grigoris.

'''1345''' - Gontse, daughter of Paron Khosrovik, donates Khangah orchard to the monastery for salvation of the soul of Amad.

'''15th century''' - The architectural model of the two-story funerary chapel spreads throughout [[Syunik Province|Syunik]] and all monasteries build chapel of the same type.

'''1476''' - The scribe Poghos re-copies a Gospel.

'''1486''' - Davit Darbin erects a [[khachkar]] in the monastery to the memory of Tukhik.

'''1569''' - Bishop Eghishe erects a [[khachkar]] to the memory of his uncle Bishop Arakel.

'''1628''' - Tuma Abegha writes Gospel in the monastery.

'''1600-1700''' - Fortified walls, a hospice and various other buildings are constructed in the monastery.

'''1755''' - A battle is fought between Hadji Pasha, who has taken over the monastery, and the armies of Isa Ashag.

'''1813''' - The Persian King, [[Fath-Ali Shah Qajar|Shah Fath-Ali]], hands the monastery to Petros Bek Orbelian and orders the proceeds from the village of [[Amaghu]] be given to the monastery for its running and maintenance.

'''1840''' - An earthquake damages the monastery.

'''1948-1949''' - The Committee for the Conservation of Monuments in Soviet Armenia begins restoration works on the monastery. A. Balasanyan draws up the projects.

'''1982-1983''' - Renewed consolidation, restoration and excavation works at the monastery begin.{{request quotation|sources|date=January 2020}}

'''1995''' - Because of its over restoration, Noravank is denied entry to UNESCO's World Heritage List.<ref name="Marouti">Andreh Marouti, "Preservation of the Architectural Heritage of Armenia", 2018 page 379</ref>

'''1997''' - The drum and conical dome of the Surb Astvatsatsin church is rebuilt.<ref name="Marouti" />
{{Collapse bottom}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="140">
File:Monasterio Noravank, Armenia, 2016-10-01, DD 28.jpg|Noravank
File:Noravank Khachkar.JPG|Broken khachkar to the left of Astvatsatsin church
File:Monasterio Noravank, Armenia, 2016-10-01, DD 37-39 HDR.jpg|View of the interior
File:Smbatetelikum.JPG|Carved tombstones of Smbat and Elikum III Orbelian, inside the chapel of Surb Grigor
File:Cross decoration on the north wall of ground floor of S. Astvatsatsin church, Noravank monastery.jpg|Cross decoration on the  walls of Astvatsatsin church
File:The south entrance to S. Karapet church. Noravank monastery.jpg|The southern entrance of Surb Karapet church
File:Noravank front.jpg|The entrance of Astvatsatsin church
File:Monasterio Noravank, Armenia, 2016-10-01, DD 33.jpg|Noravank khachkars
File:The hole, Noravank monastery.jpg|The hole
File:Vordan Karmir (Cochineal Red) ornament on the ceiling of S. Grigor Chapel, Noravank monastery.jpg|Ornament on the ceiling of the Saint Grigor chapel made with the Vordan Karmir (Cochineal Red) pigment
File:Noravank with cliffs-DCP 0186.JPG|Aerial view
File:2014 Prowincja Wajoc Dzor, Klasztor Norawank, Budynek muzeum.jpg|The museum
File:Monasterio Noravank, Armenia, 2016-10-01, DD 34.jpg|Bas-relief
File:20160609 058-Noravank-Armenien-026a.jpg|alt=Window tympanum of the Gavit|Window tympanum of the Gavit. Interpretation is unclear: God the Father with the head of John the Baptist, Jesus or Adam in his hand and Jesus on the Cross
File:Noravank panorama.jpg|Panorama of Noravank monastery and Amaghu valley
File:Noravank early 20th century.jpg|The monastery in the early 20th century
File:Yermakov Noravank2.jpg
File:Yermakov Noravank3.jpg
File:Yermakov Noravank.jpg
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Additional sources ==
*"[http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Noravank_Monastery Architectural Ensembles of Armenia]", by O. Khalpakhchian, published in Moscow by Iskusstvo Publishers in 1980.
*"[http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Rediscovering_Armenia_Guidebook Rediscovering Armenia Guidebook]", by Brady Kiesling and Raffi Kojian, published online and printed in 2005.
*[[iarchive:HistoryOfTheStateOfSisakan|History of the Province of Syunik (Patmut'yun Nahangin Sisakan), by Stepahnos Orbelian, 1297]].

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://avproduction.am/?ln=am&page=culture&id=29 Noravank]
*[http://www.armenica.org/cgi-bin/armenica.cgi?=2=ba=1====baz0006 Noravank monastery at Armenica.org]
*[http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Noravank_Monastery Armeniapedia.org]
*[http://www.vem.am/en/programs/shows/225 Program about Noravank Monastery by Vem Radio]

{{Armenian Churches}}

[[Category:Christian monasteries in Armenia]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Vayots Dzor Province]]
[[Category:1205 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:Christian monasteries established in the 1200s]]
[[Category:Oriental Orthodox congregations established in the 13th century]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Vayots Dzor Province]]