Vorotnavank, Medieval monastery in Syunik Province, Armenia
Vorotnavank is a monastery perched on a ridge above the Vorotan gorge in Syunik Province, comprising two churches built of stone. The complex is enclosed by high defensive walls that fortify the religious compound.
Queen Shahandukht commissioned the Church of Saint Stepanos around 1000. Her son Sevada subsequently built the Church of Saint Karapet between 1006 and 1007.
The monastery functioned as a center for medieval Armenian scholarship and drew monks who studied and taught within its walls. The buildings still reflect this role as a place where knowledge and faith were intertwined.
The monastery lies about 14 kilometers east of Sisian. Sections of the complex are currently undergoing restoration, so access to some areas may be limited.
An underground passage once linked the monastery to the Vorotan River, providing a strategic advantage during the many sieges it faced. This hidden route allowed inhabitants to access water during attacks.
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