Noravank

Located in an austere canyon of red volcanic stone, Noravank monastic complex is perched high above a tributary of Arpa River. It was built on the site of the medieval St. Pokas Church, under whose altar flowed a natural spring renowned for its healing powers. Noravank was a major spiritual and cultural center in the 13 and 14th centuries, serving as the bishopric of Siunik. Noravank and St. Astvatsatsin Church in the neighboring village of Areni were the crowning achievements of the famous architect, manuscript illuminator, and khatchkar sculptor Momik. The architect Siranes and historian Stepanos Orbelian also contributed to the creative legacy of Noravank.

St. Karapet is the oldest structure of the monastery, built in 1216-1223 during the rule of Lord Liparit Orbelian. The central structure is named after St. Stephen the Protomartyr; its gavit also served as a mausoleum for the abbots of the monastery and for the Orbelian family. Unique to this church is the anthropomorphic bust of God the Father: nowhere else in Armenian medieval art is God the Father represented in the form of a man, being usually symbolically represented as a descending right hand.

But the most striking element at Noravank complex is the two-story church-mausoleum St. Astvatsatsin, also known as Burtelashen. The first floor contains etchings of the Theotokos and the archangels Gabriel and Michael. Dual staircases masterfully built into the outer wall of the church ascend to the second floor prayer room, which in turn is decorated with carvings of the Christ, Peter and Paul.

In the 1990s, under the stewardship of Catholicos Karekin I of blessed memory and with contributions from diasporan benefactors Noravank was renovated and restored. Green Sunday, the second Sunday after Easter, is the pilgrimage day at Noravank, attracting thousands of pilgrims from Armenia and around the world.