Aghavnavank Monastery

Aghavnavank (tr. Swallow Monastery) or Church of Surb Astvatsatsin Anapat (Hermitage of the Holy Mother of God) is located 2.5 km northeast of the village of the same name, on the right bank of the Aghavnavank river, on the territory of Dilijan National Park, in the wooded area "Akhnabad", in connection what is often found in historical sources under the name Ahnabad vank (Ahnabad monastery). According to the surviving lapidary inscription, the church was erected in the XI-XII centuries.

This small, central-domed structure with two vestries was erected with purely hewn stones of yellowish pumice. The dome, culminating in a spiky vegar - conical ceiling, rests on supporting arches resting on pilasters. Several purely hewn slabs covering the church roof have survived, and the vegar was completely bare. The curly stones of the cornice also fell. There are two triangular niches carved on the eastern facade. Remains of numerous buildings that have survived to the south of the monument were probably monastic cells and outbuildings. On the western facades of the sacristy are carved, characteristic of the lapidary art of the XII-XIII centuries. lettering lettering.

The legend of Aghavnavank

Legend has it that once upon a time a young man lived in this area who healed the suffering with plasters made from plants. And so, one day the prince's daughter fell seriously ill, the beautiful Nabat, no one could cure her, and the prince was advised to turn to this young man. The young man makes an infusion from various medicinal plants, which heals the girl. The happy father orders to give him a bag of gold as a reward, but the young man asks for his daughter's hand. The prince agrees. However, Nabad refuses the young man, saying that the beggar is no match for her. The desperate young man leaves for the forest.

He sees the image of his beloved now in a stream, now in dew, now in raindrops. Days, months come. Once, being at the top of the cliff, the young man looks down into the waters of the stream, from where the beautiful Nabad smiles at him and stretches out her hands to him, as if calling him to her. And the young man, exclaiming "Ah, Nabad", rushes down from the cliff. According to legend, this is where the name Akhnabad originated. The villagers who loved the young man decide to build a church in memory of the young man. It is no coincidence that the church, like the young man in love, is isolated in the forest, this is a desert abode. Hence its name Surb Astvatsatsin anapat (Hermitage of the Holy Mother of God).

Photo By: Artur Martirosyan