Nor Varagavank

Nor Varagavank monastery complex is located in Tavush region of Armenia, 3.5 km south-west of Varagavan village, on a high cliff, surrounded by forested mountains. It was originally called the Desert. The new Varagavank was named because of the destruction of the famous Varagavank of Vaspurakan by the Mongols. In 1213, the diligent leader of Varagavank, Luke, moved the relics kept in Varagavank to the Desert, including the piece of the Holy Cross brought by the Hripsime virgins.

It was founded in 1193-1198. By the prince of Nor Berd Davit Kyurikyan (junior branch of the Bagratuni). At that time the first single-nave church of the monastery was built with two altars. Adjacent to the church from the north is the Kyurikyan family cemetery (1200). Later, a single-nave chapel was built next to the south wall of the church.

In the northern part of the monastery in 1224-1237. St. Astvatsatsin Church was built by Vasak II, son of Prince David. The architect is Gazan Anetsi. The inner cruciform և outer rectangular church has four two-storey apses. It is crowned with a dome with a cylindrical drum. The church has two entrances, one from the west and one from the south. The decoration of the southern entrance is unique in the unique medieval Armenian architecture. It is decorated with mosaic-style dark purple, light blue stones with a star, a hexagon or a diagonal egg. Zodiac and plant ornaments are carved on the stones.

Only one of the two vestibules of the new Varagavank has reached us (only ruins remain from the other). The rectangular vestibule was built in 1237-1261. On the initiative of the monastery leader Hovhannes Tuetsi. The monastery had a water supply, which was built in 1253. by some Shara. There are khachkars in the territory of the monastery. The author of the oldest khachkar (1620) is Vardan.