Tsiranavor Church of Ashtarak, Medieval church in Ashtarak, Armenia.
Tsiranavor Church sits on the edge of a gorge and was built from apricot-colored tufa stone with a cross-shaped floor plan. The roof is partly collapsed, but two entrances and a semi-circular apse remain visible.
This church was built in the 5th century and is one of the oldest structures in Ashtarak. In the 17th century, fortifications were added with doubled north and west walls fitted with gun slots.
The name comes from an old legend about three sisters dressed in different colors who fell in love with the same prince. This story connects the churches of Ashtarak together and is still told by locals today.
The building is reachable from Ashtarak's streets and can be viewed from outside even though it is partially deteriorated. Visitors should be careful as some structural parts may be unstable.
Russian markers inside the church caused confusion with the nearby Spitakavor Church, and locals tell them apart by their different stone colors. The apricot-colored stones are the identifying feature of this structure.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
