Monastery on Lake Sevan. Armenia, Sevanavank monastery. Admiring the masterpiece of ancient architecture
Sevanavank Monastery, located about 6 km from the city of Sevan, on the Sevan Peninsula, is one of the religious attractions of this region.
In VIII Art. Several monks, having settled on the island, began to build their churches. Soon they were joined by other monks who began active construction of the monastery. First of all, the monks began to build walls; for this they cut out a large ledge in the rock and laid huge stone blocks on it. As a result, the wall encircled the island of Sevan. Later, the monks built a watchtower with a small gate above the wall and erected three churches, cells and several outbuildings.
The temples of Surb-Astvatsatsin and the temple of Surb-Arakelots were built in 874. The initiator of the construction was the daughter of King Ashot I - Mariam.
In 925, a terrible battle with an Arab army took place near the island - the Battle of Sevan. Then King Ashot II the Iron completely defeated the Arabs and from that time the Armenian “golden age” began. Throughout its history, the monastery was destroyed several times. IN Soviet years it was closed. In 1931, a terrible thing happened: the Surb-Astvatsatsin temple was dismantled into stones, from which a sanatorium was soon built.
In 1981, construction of a drainage tunnel began, as a result of which the water level in the lake dropped by almost 20 m and the island turned into a peninsula.
The churches of Surb Astvatsatsin and Surb Arakelots have survived to this day. All that remains of the Surb-Harutyun Temple is the foundation. The surviving temples, the largest of which is the Surb Arakelots temple, are built from dark volcanic stone. The design of the temples is quite unusual. They are small three-apse cross-domed churches. The temples differ from each other only in the nature of the masonry.
Sevanavank Monastery, unlike other monastic complexes, is small and modest. At the same time, the main highlight of the monastery is the amazing views of the lake and the surrounding area that open from its windows.
Sevanavank Monastery (Armenia) - description, history, location. The exact address and website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.
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60 km from Yerevan, on the top of a peninsula washed by the waters of the second largest lake in the world - Sevan, there is a unique monument of ancient Armenian architecture - the world-famous Sevanavank Monastery, included in the List of Objects cultural heritage UNESCO. History says that the religious complex was built by hermit monks at the end of the 8th century with the support of Grigor the Illuminator and Princess Mariam from the royal family of Bagratuni. In those distant times, the peninsula was not connected to the mainland and was a rocky piece of land a little more than 250 m long. To get to the island, it was necessary to overcome about 3 km of water, so mainly fishermen and fugitive criminals settled on it. At the beginning of the 8th century, monks first landed there and founded a small settlement.
Having settled down, they set about improving the area adjacent to the cells: they cut out a ledge in the rock and lined it with stone blocks, which served as the foundation for the fortress wall. During the heyday of the monastery, on its territory, in addition to cells, there were 4 temples and numerous outbuildings. Over the years of its existence, Sevanavank has survived more than one attack: the Mongols, Arabs and pirates left no stone unturned of the fortress wall. Fires and vandals also contributed to the destruction of the monument. Nevertheless, some of the buildings were saved and completely restored, and now anyone can get acquainted with the cultural site of international importance completely free of charge.
What to see
There is a path from the shore of the lake to the monastery, ending with a rather steep stone staircase. After overcoming about 200 steps, visitors find themselves on the territory of the complex, which captivates at first glance with its unusual architecture. In previous centuries, 4 cross-domed churches functioned in the monastery - Surb Astvatsatsin, Surb Harutyun, Surb Karapet and Surb Arakelots.
All of them were built from unpolished blocks of black volcanic tuff, held together with white lime mortar, and had a similar architectural appearance. The only difference was the method of laying.
During the Soviet years, Surb Astvatsatsin was dismantled to its foundations, and the resulting stones were used to build a sanatorium. Surb Harutyun now lies in ruins and is of no particular interest, except for the gorgeous views of the lake and Caucasus Mountains, opening from its platform.
The remaining 2 churches have been carefully restored. It is worth noting that the external appearance of the buildings is not particularly remarkable due to the lack of carvings, bas-reliefs and frescoes. Of interest, first of all, are the nearby khachkars made of emerald-colored andesite and the labyrinth formed by the foundation of the cells. The interior space of the buildings amazes with the abundance of dark shades: unpainted walls are covered with soot, released in abundance by smoldering incense and candles. The only bright spots are the gilded iconostasis and icons.
Practical information
You can get to the monastery from Yerevan by car (coordinates: 40.56387; 45.01084), taxi (provided that 4-6 people are traveling - 40,000 AMD per person) and bus (8-15 seats- 58000 AMD; 35-50 seats - 105000 AMD). Travel time - 1 hour. Prices on the page are for April 2019.
Armenia - amazing country. It is literally filled with architectural monuments, masterpieces of Christian architecture. One of these pearls was magnificent temple on Lake Sevan.
History of a unique monument
The monks began building their monastery around the 8th century. They built several cells on the shore of a cold lake. The novices built a chapel for religious ceremonies.
The Sevanavank monastery in Armenia became a full-fledged shelter for Christians by 874, it was opened by Princess Mariam. Several centuries later, the temple monastery was completely destroyed. The monastery was revived closer to our time, and its own theological seminary was opened.
Admiring the masterpiece of ancient architecture
The small ancient monastery differs from the luxurious architectural monuments of Armenia. Its charm is created by the dark stone and nature around it. The main wealth of Sevanavank were two churches: the Holy Apostle and the Holy Mother of God.
The temples, built from roughly processed stone, do not have beautiful decoration. They are simple, harsh, like the cool water of a lake. But the ancient walls preserve the memory of Christian chants and the majestic echo of historical events.
This is where many begin excursion routes lake coast. Amazing views open up from the monastery hill. Blue sky, blue water, mountains in the haze create a feeling of infinity. Below there is a beach and volleyball courts, but swimming in the cold lake is only possible in July and August. The rest of the time, tourists admire the beautiful scenery.
Walking tours around the peninsula on which the monastery is located will appeal to those who like a simple and unpretentious holiday. On the coast of the lake there are hotels and camp sites for people of different incomes.
Road to Sevanavank
First, tourists need to get to. Lake Sevan is located approximately 60 km from the city. The easiest way to get to the monastery complex is to negotiate with a taxi or minibus driver. Picturesque landscapes will brighten up the journey and fill travelers with peace.
Route from Yerevan to Sevanavank on the map
Another route consists of several stages:
Yerevan airport;
metro - to North station;
minibus or bus to Sevan.
A convenient road ends at the coast. Then tourists plunge into the pristine world of the monastery. Travelers should stock up on proper clothing and hats, because the climate of Sevan is reminiscent of Baikal.
(Սեւանավանք) - a monastery in the province of Gegharkunik, on the shores of Lake Sevan, on the Sevan Peninsula, which was an island at the beginning of the Soviet era. Sometimes called Mariamashen, Sometimes Akhtamar, in the latter case it should not be confused with Akhtamar on Lake Van.
It is located at an altitude of just over 1900 meters from sea level, in a pleasant high-mountain atmosphere. One of the most beautiful monasteries in Armenia, which gives a good reason to visit Lake Sevan.
Story
The Sevan Peninsula was once a small island in the middle of Sevan. When Armenia was baptized in 301, Saint Gregory the Illuminator personally founded two churches here: Surb-Harutyun and Surb-Karapet. In 874, the temple of Surb-Astvatsatsin (Virgin Mary) and the temple of Surb-Arakelots (12 apostles) were built. The initiator of the construction was Mariam, the daughter of King Ashot I and the wife of the Syunik king Vasak. The temples were built seemingly as a vow after the death of this Vasak. Because of this Mariam monastery is sometimes called Mariamashen.
In 925, a major battle with an Arab army took place on or around the island, known as the Battle of Sevan. In this battle, King Ashot II the Iron defeated the Arabs and from that moment the Armenian “Golden Age” began. The monastery can be considered a witness and monument to this historical event.
In subsequent eras, the monastery was destroyed several times. Both the Seljuks and the Timurites had a hand in the destruction. IN Soviet time the monastery was closed, and in 1931 the unthinkable happened: the St. Astvatsatsin temple (IX century) was dismantled into stones and a sanatorium was built from them.
In 1981, they began to build a drainage tunnel, which was completed in 2003, and as a result the lake level dropped by almost 20 meters, and the island turned into a peninsula. Now they are trying to bring the level back, and it is gradually increasing by 20 centimeters per year. It is not clear whether there are plans to turn the peninsula back into an island.
view of the Sevan Peninsula from the shore and the Yerevan highway
What is there now
Now on the territory of the monastery you can find two temples and some foundations. The Surb-Astvatsatsin Temple was dismantled so thoroughly that not a single stone remained from it. The Surb-Harutyun Temple remained only in the form of a foundation. But this is also very valuable, since almost nothing remains from the temples of the 4th century in Transcaucasia. So you can touch with your hands the foundation of that very, perhaps the first, Armenian church. Here she is:
Of the two surviving temples, the largest is the temple Surb-Arakelots. Its dome is slightly sharper than that of the neighboring Surb Karapet church. Both temples were built not from limestone or tuff, beloved by Armenians, but from some kind of dark volcanic stone.
Surb Karapet Temple- this is the same one built by Gregory the Illuminator simultaneously with Surb-Harutyun, but in the 8th century it was completely reconstructed and now we no longer know its original appearance. On the Internet, sometimes this temple is mistakenly considered the Surb-Astvatsatsin temple. However, I repeat, Astvatsatsin was dismantled in 1931.
Surb Karapet Temple
The design of both temples is somewhat unusual. They are both domed and three-apsed, that is, curves are present in the northern, eastern and southern apses, and are absent in the western one. This composition is usually called triconch(this is how the Kakheti Cathedral of Alaverdi was built), but in the 8th century it seems that triconchs had not yet been built. At that time, tetraconchs were more popular. It can be assumed that these temples are the first experimental Armenian triconchs. Then they will be very valuable from the point of view of the history of architecture.
The temple of Surb Arakelots was once attached gavit- we can assume that in the 12th century, although I haven’t come across dates anywhere. This gavit was of a late type, with three aisles. It has not survived to this day, but the floor and pieces of walls remain, which allow us to get some idea.
A little to the west of the Arakelots temple there once were cells and an Academy, but only the foundations remained of them.
Sevanavank is smaller and more modest than other monastic complexes; it does not surprise with its architecture, but it is a rare case of a temple with views of the lake. These views make it the most unusual and most fascinating in Northern Armenia. In good weather, you can just sit on a bench here and look at Sevan. For this reason it is worth driving here from Tbilisi.
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View of Sevan
Hit
Getting to Sevanavank is very easy. If you are driving from Dilijan to Yerevan, you will see the peninsula and the monastery right from the highway. There is also a sign there. From the highway you will have to walk 900 meters to the parking lot, from where the stairs begin to go up to the hill. That's all. If for some reason you have an acute shortage of time, then you can at least stop at a cafe on the shore of Sevan and drink coffee there with a view of Sevanavank. Highly recommend.
“Not going to Lake Sevan while in Armenia in the summer is the same as visiting this country and not eating dolma” - that’s what I decided for myself when planning a route around Armenia. It is very important for me to “be by the water” in any place I visit, and Sevan is the only “sea” that Armenians have. And yes, I planned to swim in it, what kind of vacation is this if you never swim while being in the warmest time of the year in Armenia. Lake Sevan promised this in absentia.
To see Sevan you don’t have to go somewhere specific. Sevan appeared to us when we were just driving to Noratus Cemetery, almost immediately after Selim Pass.
Yes, this is not a classic view of the lake that can be seen on the Internet, but this is a lake-lake without a resort booth.
The lake is huge and supplies water to the whole of Armenia. In the Soviet years, they wanted to irrigate it a little and make it smaller and used the water for agricultural needs. But the project has languished (and well), and the lake is currently overflowing in the spring, flooding the coastal strip. This is very clearly visible near the Hayravank monastery, then sometimes you can’t drive up to it and it looks like it stands on a peninsula.
Lake Sevan may not be a sea, but it is a resort in Armenia, and you are especially convinced of this when you come to the Sevanavank monastery. There is a concentration of restaurants, people, boats and speedboats for rent, and in general people come there to relax on major holidays. But as the locals told us, a vacation on Lake Sevan is not a cheap pleasure and not every Armenian family can afford it, and if they can, it’s only for a couple of days once a year. Of course, there are options for inexpensive tourist centers on the banks of Sevan, but if Armenians go on vacation with their families, they do not save). In fact, when we were near Sevan, and later at Lake Parz in Dilijan, we realized that in Armenia everything really is paid, not only for parking, but also just to sit at a table.
But we went to Sevan to swim (we didn’t manage to, we were late and the water was still cold) and for the sights of Sevan - the monasteries of Hayravank and Sevanavank.
Hayravank
Hayravank Monastery is also known as the Monastery of Mardakhavnyats (pigeon people) and this name is associated with the legend according to which, during the invasion of Tamerlane, the abbot of the monastery turned thousands of captive Armenians into pigeons. And if you give historical data, why else is it worth coming here, then the Hayravank monastery was founded on this site back in the 1st century BC.
If I understood a little more about architecture than “like it or not,” then I would be able to appreciate what is unique about the creation of Armenian architecture in this particular complex.
The church itself dates back to the 9th century, and the porch to it dates back to the 13th.
Near the church there are ancient khachkars, as well as the ruins of old fortifications built on the site of a Bronze Age settlement.
Remains of the old cemetery. The red color of the stones and the blue of the lake attract the eye in such a way that you don’t really want to be inside the church itself, among the black walls smoked with candles. 
That's why most We spent our time in Hayravank watching the seagulls circling here over the fishing nets.
The views are incredible, don't you agree?
Sevanavank Monastery
The most party place on Lake Sevan is located next to the ancient Sevanavank monastery. And I love this juxtaposition of churches in Armenia with ordinary life, when you can remain human. Gregory the Illuminator, the same one who sat in a pit in Khor Virap founded the churches of St. Karapet and St. Harutyun here.
We arrived here already at sunset. Pop music was playing all around and the air smelled of fried meat. It was a day off. We climbed the mountain along a fairly high staircase to the monastery. Now the monastery complex consists of the churches of St. Arakelots (right) and St. Karapet (left), the ruins of the vestibule, partially restored monastic cells and the remains of the foundation of the church of St. Harutyun. Surb Church Astvatsatsin, which was founded by Gregory the Illuminator, and its vestibule no longer exist.
Sunset time is not at all conducive to studying religious architecture and all you want to do is watch seagulls with dreams of local crayfish. And seagulls and crayfish, by the way, are endemic to Lake Sevan, by the way.
Despite the fact that the churches are already closed after sunset, the chapel in the St. Harutyun Church remains open, where you can come and light candles, which is what the locals use. In the courtyard you can see many ancient khachkars, including those made of green stone, which were made from andesite mined in the area of Lake Sevan.
The monastery was damaged during an earthquake in 1936 and many ruins can be seen around the two restored churches. In the photo are the ruins of the Church of St. Harutyun.
Church of St. Karapet and partially restored monastery cells.
Crayfish from Lake Sevan
Well, another of the attractions of Lake Sevan is its crayfish. We were on the lake after sunset and we still needed to get to Dilijan in time, so we bought crayfish right in the kitchen of the closing restaurant from the back door, our driver did his best. Not to say that they are somehow different from our crayfish, and they cost a lot, but against the background of what you can try in Armenia, among vegetables, meat and fruits, I really want fish. And where can you eat it if not here?!
How to get to Lake Sevan
My answer to Chamberlain is to rent a car. For example here in .
Dilijan is located 67 kilometers from Yerevan.
Minibuses for 800 drams and 1 hour from the Yusisain bus station depart to Sevan as they fill up. On Abovyan Street next to the Yeritasardakyan metro station. You must understand that Sevan is not only a lake, but also a city 6 kilometers from the lake and public transport goes there.
During the season, from June 15 to October 1, a train runs to Sevan. From Yerevan from the Almast railway station at 8-30, except Wednesdays. In Sevan, the train arrives at the Shorzha station on weekends and at the Tsovagyugh station on weekdays. It costs 600 drams and takes 2 hours.
A taxi from the city of Sevan to Yerevan will cost approximately 7,000 drams. To the Dilijan resort 4000 drams and to Tsaghkadzor about 3000 drams.
Travel from the city to the lake, between hotels and from Sevan to the Sevanavank and Hayravank monasteries will cost about 1000 drams one way. If you take a driver with a return and a short stop at the monasteries, then the cost will be about 2500-3000 drams.
If you choose public transport, then you’ll have to ride on the crossroads. One day you can turn around, but at a gallop. Or you will have to spend the night on the lake, and accommodation there is not the cheapest, although there is plenty to choose from and with a view.
Well, a very good option is to rent a car with a driver in Yerevan. Then you can turn around one day and not be too tired.
If you are used to booking transfers in advance, then you may find the information on prices to Sevan below useful:
Where to stay on Lake Sevan
If you want to make a stop at the lake, you must understand that this is the main summer vacation spot in the country. Perhaps the only place where you can swim, sunbathe, relax, dive, kite, yacht and much more. Therefore, hotel prices here are higher than the average in Armenia, and good options It is advisable to book in advance.
I have prepared a selection of hotels for you: popular ones based on reviews, with lake views and cheap but good options. We ourselves did not stop there for the night and went to Dilijan, which I wrote about.