Saint Sargis Church of Ashtarak, Armenian Apostolic Church in Ashtarak, Armenia

Saint Sargis Church sits on a elevated point at the edge of the Ashtarak gorge and features a cross-shaped design with one central dome. The structure is reached by crossing an old stone bridge that descends into the canyon below.

Saint Sarkis Church was built in the 19th century on the foundation of an older church. Its interior stonework remains unchanged, while the façades were restored in recent years. Original carved stones with inscriptions, now placed beside the foundation, indicate the earlier structure's age.

The church is dedicated to Saint Sarkis, a saint linked to the town's name: Ashtarak is said to derive from the Armenian word for tower. The original carved stones with reliefs and inscriptions, removed during recent façade restoration, now lie beside the building's foundation, where visitors can examine them.

Visiting requires walking down steps and a narrow path into the gorge, so wear sturdy shoes and allow some time for the descent. The best views of the church and surrounding structures can be seen from multiple vantage points around the canyon area.

The three churches seen from the promontory are Tsiranavor, Spitakavor and Karmravor; the last is a small 7th-century church with a red-tiled dome. Directly below Saint Sarkis, a path descends into the gorge to a bridge built in 1664, whose ruins stand near the church.