Saint Sargis Monastery of Ushi, Cultural heritage monastery in Ushi, Armenia.

Saint Sarkis Monastery is a walled complex measuring 45 by 54 metres on a slope at the southern edge of a late Bronze–early Iron Age fortress-settlement, 1 km west of Ushi. Its oldest structure is the single-nave Saint Sarkis Chapel, with rough basalt at the base and smooth black tufa added in 1203. The 13th-century Surp Astvatsatsin Church and its 1264 gavit stand roofless, enclosed by a 1654 wall with two rectangular and three semicircular two-storey towers.

The monastery complex was built between the 7th and 13th centuries as both a religious and defensive center. Earthquakes in 1679 and 1827 caused major damage to the structures, which remains visible today.

The monastery is a pilgrimage site where Saint Sarkis is venerated; his relics were moved here in the 5th century by a delegation led by Mesrop Mashtots. A local tradition holds that on the feast of Saint Sarkis, the lamp of the Illuminator appears over the chapel dedicated to the saint.

The site is best explored on foot, though you should expect uneven stone surfaces and some deteriorated pathways. Bring sturdy shoes and water, as the area is exposed with little shade available.

Local tradition holds that on Saint Sarkis's feast day a light, called the Illuminator's lantern, appears above the chapel dedicated to the saint; archaeologist Frina Babayan recorded the belief. The monastery is also the earliest known church bearing Saint Sarkis's name.