Last updated on .
Noravank (Նորավանք) is a monastery set in a narrow gorge in Armenia. It’s about 122 kilometers from Yerevan and a short drive from Areni.
Introduction to Noravank
Noravank, which translates to new monastery, was founded in 1105 by Bishop Hovhannes. It was the residence of princes of the Orbelian dynasty and was abandoned after an earthquake in 1840. Restorations took place in 1948, from 1982 to 1989, and from 1996 to 1998.
The monastery consists of two churches, a chapel, ruins of civic buildings, and several khachkars (cross stones). There’s also a small museum, restaurant, and souvenir shop, none of which we visited.
The road to the monastery runs for 8 kilometers through the beautiful Gnishik River Canyon, which is popular for birdwatching and hiking. It’s also a habitat for the endangered Caucasian leopard and several rare species of butterfly.
Church of the Holy Mother of God
The centerpiece of Noravank is the Church of the Holy Mother of God (Surb Astvatsatsin). It’s a rare multi-story church completed in 1339. It was designed by the architect Momik (d. 1333) and is considered his masterpiece.
The church, which was financed by Prince Burtel Orbelian and also called Burtelashen (Burtel’s Construction), is a memorial church that once contained the tombs of Burtel and his family. The ground floor is rectangular in plan with a cross-shaped second floor topped by a colonnaded rotunda.
The striking western façade of the church contains two sets of narrow cantilevered stairs leading up to the entrance on the second floor, where there’s a relief sculpture depicting Christ flanked by Saints Peter and Paul. There are also reliefs of animals, birds, plants, and geometric shapes as well as Armenian inscriptions and crosses. Unfortunately, due to danger of collapse, it’s no longer possible to climb the stairs to enter the church.
Another relief depicting the Virgin and Child with Archangels Gabriel and Michael sits above the entrance to the ground floor. Inside is a dark space with a dirt floor where visitors can light candles. Pay attention to the elaborate design on the wooden door.
Surb Karapet Church
Nearby is Surb Karapet Church, or the Church of St. John the Baptist. It was built between 1216 and 1227 and financed by Prince Liparit Orbelian. It’s on a cross-shaped plan and topped by a dome. The dome was destroyed by earthquakes in 1340 and 1931 and reconstructed in 1361 and 1998, respectively.
The entrance to the church is via a gavit, or antechamber, built in 1261 by Prince Smbat Orbelian as a mausoleum. Atop the entrance is a relief of the Virgin and Child flanked by two saints. Above that is a unique representation of God blessing a crucifix with his right hand and holding the head of St. John the Baptist in his left hand.
The interior contains inscribed gravestones on the floor and is decorated with ornate khachkars. The roof, which was replaced in 1321 after it collapsed during an earthquake, has a tent-shaped vault with a square skylight in the center.
Five steps lead up to the entrance of the church, which contains inscriptions above. The very narrow space has a beautifully decorated apse and a wall on the left side filled with inscriptions on the entire lower half.
Surb Grigor Chapel
Attached to the north side of Surb Karapet Church is Surb Grigor Chapel. Dedicated to Gregory the Illuminator, it was added to the church in 1275 by the architect Siranes. It contains more Orbelian family tombs. The tombstone covering the grave of Elikum, son of Prince Tarsayich Orbelian, depicts a man on horseback hunting a lion and is dated 1300. The chapel has a rectangular plan with a vaulted ceiling.
Khachkars at Noravank
Noravank is home to several incredible khachkars. Several of them line a path on the east side of the complex. The most intricate was created in 1308 by Momik.
Other Features
A couple other things we noticed at Noravank are the foundations of a ruined building on the southwest corner of the complex. There’s also a cistern you can climb into. Finally, if you follow a path past Surb Karapet Church, you can get some incredible views of the entire monastery. Unfortunately, we were running late and had to miss out on that.
