Byourakan

Byourakan is a village near Ashtarak on the left bank of the river Amberd. The single-nave basilican church, dedicated to St. John, was built by Catholicos Hovhannes VI between 900 and 931. The apse, which would appear to be earlier (perhaps 5th century), has the peculiarity of being rectangular on the inside as well, and is richly decorated with architectural motifs on the east front. For structural reasons two double-height rooms were added, enclosing the apse, and the façade wall was also doubled.