Lmbatavank, Cultural heritage monastery in Artik, Armenia.

Lmbatavank is a monastery on a hillside near Artik with a cross-domed church, rectangular wings, and a horseshoe-shaped nave. The structure combines typical Armenian architectural elements with carefully proportioned forms that define its appearance.

Architectural analysis dates the church to the 6th century, though an inscription records that its dome was restored in the 10th century. Between 1955 and 1956 the building was partially renovated, and excavations in 1960 cleared the area in front of the church, uncovering khachkars and a Bronze Age cemetery.

Local tradition holds that Turkish forces once fired a cannon at the church, missed twice, then misfired into their own ranks; the commander stopped the attack on learning it was a church. Another story tells of a man who stole the door and could not lift it from his back until he returned it.

The monastery sits 2 kilometers southwest of Artik in the Shirak region on an elevated position with clear paths to the grounds. The location offers good conditions for exploration and photography with open views of the surrounding landscape.

Local lore holds that Turkish forces once fired a cannon at the church twice and missed; the third shot misfired near the gunners, and the commander stopped the attack upon realizing it was a church. Another tale says a man who stole the church door could not lift it from his back until he returned it.