Sanahin

Also situated in the Lorì region, on the edge of the plain overlooking the river Tstoraket. This monastic complex, probably erected on the site of a pre-Christian temple, comprises 3 churches, 2 gavits, an academy, the library and the bell tower, and is surrounded by a fortified perimeter. In the centre, the church of the Virgin (St. Asdvadzadzin), begun in 930, is of the domed-hall type with four corner rooms; the dome and drum are later (17th century). Beside this church of modest proportions, Queen Khosrovanush in 966, with the help of Ashot III Bagratuni, began building the church of the Redeemer, dedicating it to her sons Smbat and Gurghen (depicted in the bas-relief on the gable of the east façade). Similar in plan to the former, it is however much larger. In 1061 the church of St. Grikor was built, with a quatrefoil plan inscribed in a circle, and in 1063 the library, one of the most interesting buildings. It is square in plan, with a roof supported by diagonal arches springing from four half-columns set in the middle of the sides of the square. In the middle of the 11th century, following the Seljuk invasions, building activity came to a halt; it resumed towards the end of the 12th century with the gavit in front of the church of the Redeemer, built by Prior Hovhannes. Notable are the four monolithic columns on which its roof rests. The other large gavit, in front of the church of the Virgin, dates from 1211 and is covered with three barrel vaults on a double row of piers. The west façade is open, and in its arches stand out two very precious khatchkars dated 1187 and 1215.