Goshavank Monastery

Region

Tavush

Distance from Yerevan

117.4 km

Type

Monastery/Church

Goshavank Monastery, named after Mkhitar Gosh, is located in Tavush Region, on the right bank of the Getik River, 15 km away from Dilijan. In 1188, Mkhitar Gosh started the construction of the monastery complex with the help of Ivane Zakaryan. Previously, not far from Goshavank, there was Getik Monastery, which was destroyed by an earthquake. Mkhitar Gosh, by building the present monastery complex, named it New Getik, but after his death in 1213, it was called Goshavank. The monastery complex consists of St. Astvatsatsin Church, a chapel, St. Grigor and Illuminator Churches, a small St. Hripsime Church, a library-bell tower, Mkhitar Gosh’s residence, and a tomb. In the 13th century, Goshavank was one of the major religious and cultural centers of Armenia, where Armenian and foreign languages, grammar, philosophy, rhetoric, music, calligraphy, art, and painting were taught.