Noravank Monastery ("New Monastery") is located 122 km from Yerevan, in the region of Vayots Dzor, in a striking natural location at the end of a narrow gorge of the Amaghu.
The oldest building of the complex dates back in the IX – X centuries which unfortunately is not preserved. The main church of St. Karapet built in 1227 with the narthex that has two very special gables is preserved. The church was reconstructed by the famous architect and sculptor Momik. The low relief on the gable of the entrance and the windows of the west facade are very interesting from the architectural point of view. In the narthex there are numerous tombs of monks and princes of the Orbelyan family.
The main church has a side chapel dedicated to St. Gregory in which there is a tombstone from 1300 carved with half human and half lion features placed over the tomb of Prince Smbat Orbelyan.
To the south of the monastery you can see the two-story bell tower-mausoleum of Sourb Astvatsatsin, "Holy Mother of God," whose second floor, the church proper (the lower floor was used as a mausoleum for the princes of the Orbelian family) is accessible only by two narrow staircases cantilevered over the facade. Completed in 1339, the church is considered the "Swan Song" of the famous architect Momik.
In the 12th-14th centuries Noravank was the seat of the bishops of the Syunik region and the most important religious and artistic center in Armenia. The monastery was completely restored and reopened in 1999.
The churches, crosses, stone bas-reliefs are splendid. Everything here is very impressive.
The magnificent landscape of mountains surrounding the monastery has a beautiful variety of colors.
