Aghjots Vank, Medieval monastery in Ararat Province, Armenia
Aghjots Vank is a monastic complex in Ararat Province consisting of two churches and a partially collapsed vestibule. The structures sit in a river valley along a tributary of the Azat River within the Khosrov State Reserve.
Prince Grigor Khaghbakian and Princess Zaza commissioned the main structures in 1217 during a period of religious expansion. This foundation reflected a broader wave of monastic development across the Armenian highlands during that era.
The carved walls display geometric patterns and religious scenes that tell stories from Christian tradition. Visitors walking through the site can see how local craftspeople expressed their faith and skills directly into the stone.
Access requires following a dirt track through Khosrov Reserve along the Azat River, roughly 5 km from the entrance at Baiburt. Proper footwear is essential since the path is unpaved and winds through river valley terrain.
The church portal displays two full-length relief sculptures from the 14th century depicting the apostles Peter and Paul. These rare stone portraits rank among the most detailed surviving examples of their time in the region.
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