Surb Stefanos Monastery, Armenian monastery in Staryi Krym, Russia.
Surb Stefanos Monastery is an Armenian monastery in Staryi Krym featuring a medieval church called Surb Nshan, a bell tower, and a refectory with basement chambers. The grounds also include an orchard with two fountains fed by natural springs through ceramic pipes.
Armenian monks founded this monastery in the 14th century while fleeing religious pressure from other communities. The church building dates to 1358 and served as a center for Armenian religious life in the region.
The refectory area shows how Armenian monks organized their communal life through the building's layout and design, reflecting their daily routines and practices.
The site can be explored on foot with stairs connecting different levels of the monastery grounds. Visit during dry weather when the areas around the fountains and gardens are easiest to navigate.
The Surb Nshan church contains fragments of medieval wall paintings inside that show Armenian artistic traditions. These painted surfaces offer rare glimpses into religious art practices from that era.
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