Saghmosavank, Medieval monastery in Aragatsotn Province, Armenia.

Saghmosavank is a monastery in the Aragatsotn region of Armenia, built on a clifftop overlooking the deep Kasagh gorge using local volcanic stone. Several buildings with cross-shaped floor plans and vaulted roofs form the complex, surrounded by a low wall with open views down into the ravine below.

According to tradition, Gregory the Illuminator founded a church here in the 4th century after spotting the site from Mount Aragats. In the 12th century Hovhannes Munj renovated the monastery and established a scriptorium. Prince Vache Vachutyan built the main Church of Zion in 1215, and his son Kurd added the Church of the Mother of God in 1235 and the library in 1255.

The name comes from the Armenian word for psalm, and the monastery is said to be the only one in the world named after the psalms sung there; its acoustics carry sound well. According to tradition, Gregory the Illuminator gathered clergy here in the 4th century and taught them psalms.

The complex is accessible throughout the year and makes for a day trip from the capital, with parking available near the entrance. Sturdy footwear helps on the uneven stone surfaces and when exploring the different buildings in the compound.

The library shows an unusual construction with intersecting arches supporting a stone pyramid, a rare solution in Armenian monastery building. This structure lets light enter through narrow openings and creates a quiet space for the study of old texts.