Karmravor St. Astvatsatsin Church

Region

Aragatsotn

Distance from Yerevan

23.4 km

Type

Monastery/Church

Karmravor St. Astvatsatsin Church (commonly known as Karmravor) is located in the northeastern part of the town of Ashtarak, near the area once known as old Berdatagh, situated on a high hillside. This small, slender, and proportionate structure stands out for its harmonious architecture. Although the exact date of the church’s construction is unknown, and there is no mention of it in historical manuscripts, its structure and architectural elements suggest that it dates back to the 7th century. The building belongs to the domed single-apse type, with a cruciform (four-armed) layout and a single apse on the eastern arm. It is constructed from reddish-brown tuff stone. The church's walls are decorated with frescoes, including a composition titled “Christ in Glory”, and the decorative elements are modest and restrained. The church is small, and the decor is simple, which has led scholars to assume that it was originally intended as a mausoleum for a noble family. In Karmravor’s courtyard, a medieval cemetery has been preserved, featuring khachkars (cross-stones) and tombstones dating from the 13th to 17th centuries. In 1956, restoration and improvement works were carried out on the church."