Kecharis Monastery
Kotayk'
Kecharis Monastery is a significant medieval Armenian monastic complex located near the ski resort town of Tsaghkadzor, about 60 km from Yerevan. Founded in the 11th century by Grigor Magistros Pahlavuni, the complex was a prominent religious and educational center during the 12th and 13th centuries. It consists of three main churches, two chapels, and a gavit, showcasing typical Armenian ecclesiastical architecture of the feudal period. The largest church, Saint Grigor Lusavorich, features a domed hall design with a broad cupola resting on spherical pendentives, reconstructed after earthquake damage in 1927. The Surp Nshan Church and the Katoghike Cathedral, built in the 11th and 13th centuries respectively, display intricate stone carvings and architectural innovations such as two-story annexes and decorative khachkars. The gavit, attached to Saint Grigor church, is an early example of this type of vestibule hall, divided into nine sections by four columns. After severe damage from natural disasters and decades of halted restoration due to regional conflicts, the monastery was fully restored by 2000, funded by an Armenian philanthropist. Today, Kecharis Monastery is not only a spiritual landmark but also a cultural heritage site visible from nearby ski slopes, attracting visitors interested in history, architecture, and Armenian heritage.
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Tip: The best time to visit Kecharis Monastery is during late spring to early autumn when the weather is pleasant and the surrounding mountains are lush. Visitors are advised to check opening hours in advance and consider guided tours to fully appreciate the architectural and historical details. Tickets can often be purchased on-site, but group visits or educational tours might benefit from prior arrangements. Photography is permitted but respect for the sacred spaces is expected. The site is accessible from Yerevan and Tsaghkadzor by road, with parking available nearby.
Interesting facts
- •Kecharis Monastery is visible from the nearby ski slopes of Tsaghkadzor, blending cultural heritage with a modern resort town.
- •The monastery complex includes a gavit that is one of the earliest examples of this architectural form, characterized by a hall divided into nine sections by four columns.
- •The Katoghike Church was built under Prince Vasak Khakhpakyan of the Proshyan clan in the early 13th century and features a khachkar commemorating its architect, Vetsik.
- •The monastery was historically a place of higher education in medieval Armenia, highlighting its cultural importance beyond religious functions.
History
Kecharis Monastery was established in the 11th century by a Pahlavuni prince in the historic Ayrarat region of ancient Armenia.
It flourished as a major religious and educational center through the 12th and 13th centuries, becoming the property of the Proshian family.
The complex suffered damage in the 1927 earthquake, particularly to the domes of its main churches.
Restoration efforts began during the Armenian SSR period but were interrupted due to the 1988 earthquake, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and regional conflicts.
Reconstruction resumed in 1998, funded by a diaspora benefactor, and was completed by 2000, preserving the monastery's historical and architectural significance.
Place Guide
Saint Grigor Lusavorich Church1013
The main temple of the monastery, built in 1013 by Grigor Magistros Pahlavuni. It is a domed hall type church with a broad cupola on spherical pendentives, reconstructed after earthquake damage. The interior is divided into three spaces with a semicircular altar apse flanked by two-storey vestries and illuminated by triangular niches.
Surp Nshan Church11th century
A smaller cross-winged domed church located south of Saint Grigor, built in the 11th century shortly after the main church. It exemplifies typical Armenian ecclesiastical architectural style of the period.
Katoghike Churchearly 13th century
The cathedral church built in the early 13th century under Prince Vasak Khakhpakyan of the Proshyan clan, designed by architect Vetsik. It has two-story annexes in all four corners and a round cupola drum decorated with a 12-arch arcature, reconstructed after 1927 earthquake damage.
Gavitsecond half of the 12th century
An early example of a gavit, attached to the western facade of Saint Grigor church and built in the second half of the 12th century. It is a rectangular hall divided into nine sections by four heavy free-standing columns, with two-storey annexes in the eastern corners.
Contact
Phone: 093 966059
