Tanahat, 8th-century monastery in Vernashen, Armenia.
Tanahat is an 8th-century monastery in the Vayots Dzor region, near Vernashen village, made up of two churches dedicated to Saint Stepanos and Saint Nshan. Both buildings are constructed from dark polished basalt stone and follow the Armenian architectural tradition with carved stone details.
The site was originally a shrine built over the grave of Saint Stepanos Syunetsi in the 8th century. Between 1273 and 1279, Prince Prosh funded the construction of the Saint Stepanos church, and the complex later became a center of learning for the surrounding region.
The stone carvings on the church walls show the Prosh family eagle holding a lamb, along with birds of paradise and hunting scenes. These images are visible directly on the walls and tell visitors who funded the building.
The monastery sits in Vernashen village and requires a short walk from the road to reach the complex. A visit in good weather makes the walk easier, as the path crosses open ground between the village and the buildings.
Beneath the visible structures lie the remains of an older basilica from the 5th century, predating the current buildings by several hundred years. The site also served as the home of Glazdor University, one of the leading places of learning in medieval Armenia, which operated until the 1340s.
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