Saghmosavank Monastery

Saghmosavank Monastery stands on the edge of the deepest part of the Kasakh gorge (200 m). From this picturesque place you can also see Mounts Ararat, Aragats and Ara.

The history of the monastery begins in the 4th century, when the first Armenian Catholicos Gregory the Illuminator built a church on this site and turned it into an episcopal see. He teaches psalms to the priests, so the psalms would continuously sound in the church. This is where the name Saghmosavank (monastery of psalms) came from.

Over time, other famous churches were built in this region, which is why Saghmosavank gradually loses its importance. And during the rule of the Seljuks, the priests were forced to go down to the Kasakh Gorge and settle in caves. Here they not only lived a spiritual life, but also supported the liberation struggle against the Seljuks.

1191-1196 under the leadership of Zakare Zakarian (commander-in-chief of the united Armenian and Georgian troops), the current Aragatsotn region is liberated from Seljuk power. Zakare Zakaryan hands over those territories to Vache Vachutyan, who was prominent in the battles, and grants him the title of Prince of Princes. Prince Vache Vachutyan and his wife Princess Mamakhatun vow to build many churches and monasteries. The law of that time required that churches and monasteries be built on the site of destroyed sanctuaries. The prince and his wife first repaired the 4th century church of Saghmosavank, then in 1215 they built the main church of the monastery complex, Saint Sion, next to it. In 1215-1220, they built a vestibule next to the Saint Sion Church from the west, which serves as an entrance to the temple. The prince donates 1 village and 115 manuscripts to the monastery.

Over time, the collection of books becomes so rich that it becomes necessary to have a library. 1255 Vache's son Kurd Vachutyan and his wife Princess Khorishah Mamikonyan built the Saint Asvatsatsatsin Church Library, which they dedicated to the memory of their late daughter Mamakhatun. At the top of the library walls there were special niches that served as hiding places for manuscripts and precious church utensils. The created conditions were the basis that in 1267 Scientist and historian Vardan Areveltsi moves the doctrinal higher school from Khor Virap Monastery to Saghmosavank.

Thus, with the support of the Vachutyan dynasty, Saghmosavank became one of the largest spiritual, cultural and educational centers of medieval Armenia. The school operated until the end of the 17th century. At that period, the monastery had dozens of tax-paying villages, large plots of land and gardens, mills, etc. The monastery used the income received for its own needs, for educational and charitable purposes.

1830 a group of Armenian immigrants settled near the monastery and created a village. The village is named Saghmosavan in honor of Saghmosavank Monastery.

Although the monastery was often damaged over the centuries, it was always repaired and remained standing. On the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the declaration of Christianity as the state religion in Armenia, the monastery was thoroughly renovated in 1998-2000.

Saghmosavank Monastery is a three-domed structure. The modest exterior is contrasted by the magnificent interior. The acoustics inside the monastery are wonderful and spiritual chants are still heard there.