Haghartsin

Armenian Monastery X—XIII cc, Tavush RegionM
One of the pearls of the medieval Armenian architecture is the Haghartsin monastery complex, located in the village of the same name in the Tavush region of Armenia. The flow of tourists to this unique attraction does not stop throughout the year. 

The monastery is immersed in the greenery of the lush forests of Dilijan, which amazes with its splendor and marvelous beauty. Its name, according to the legend, comes from the roots of the words “khagh” (game) and “arciv” (eagle), however, there is another version according which the landmark is named after mountain lions that once lived in the surrounding forests (“vagr” in Armenian means - a tiger, and “cin” means born).

The image of an eagle is quite often met on the walls of Haghartsin. So, on the sculptural group of the eastern facade of the Church of the Holy Virgin, you can see the image of two monks and an eagle sitting on the dome of the church.

The Haghartsin monastery complex was founded under the patronage of the Bagratuni dynasty from the 10th-13th centuries. Its construction lasted almost 300 years. The oldest building of the complex - Surb Grigor Church was built at the end of the 10th century. In the future, the monastery was replenished with new buildings.

The monastery complex includes the church of St. Grigor, the church of the Holy Virgin, the church of St. Stepanos and several other buildings. The largest building of the complex is the Church of the Holy Virgin, which is considered a masterpiece of the Armenian architecture. 
Today, the Haghartsin Monastery is visited not only by tourists, but also by numerous pilgrims from Armenia and abroad.
A trip to Haghartsin - one of the oldest and most beautiful cultural and historical monuments of Armenia, is an integral part of the sightseeing tours of our company.