Odzun Monastery

Odzun is one of the oldest settlements of the Gugark region, located 8 km southwest of the present-day town of Alaverdi. The area is rich in medieval architectural heritage, the crown jewel of which is the Odzun Basilica, a domed basilica church from the 5th–6th centuries that rises in the center of the village. Architecturally, this basilica is similar to early Christian three-nave basilicas but stands out for its domed structure. It is chronologically dated to the late 6th century. The church is also known by the names Holy Mother of God, Holy Sign, St. John, or Khachgund, the latter in memory of Priest Khachgund, who is buried in the churchyard near a decorated khachkar (cross-stone) erected in 1291. The basilica is built of finely hewn basalt and light chestnut-colored felsite. Externally, it is rectangular with an east-west orientation. It features a semicircular apse, two-story side chambers (vestries), and an outer arcaded gallery surrounding it. The outer gallery and the prayer hall were built at the same time, following the same artistic style. Many Armenian inscriptions have been preserved inside and outside the church. Its relief sculptures and decorative carvings are characteristic of 6th–7th century Christian art. The church has undergone multiple renovations over the centuries. This is confirmed by the inscriptions and the tombstones in the churchyard. At the end of the 19th century, brothers Zakaria and Baghdasar Abovyan, residents of Tbilisi, financed the reconstruction of the church and its surrounding walls. This fact is confirmed by an inscription attached to a column supporting the dome, and by the tombstone of their mother, Elisabet. In the 19th century, two symmetrical bell towers were added to the church’s eastern facade.