Astvatznkal temple

At the Aragatzotn district in Yernjatap village, at the shore of Kasagh river, on the small hill, is the Astvatznkal mid-century monastery complex. The complex’s oldest construction, basilica church of Vc. has a horse-shoe bows and inner wall-columns with ancient type anchors. The roofing was ruined.

The next construction - the big «Catoghike» church is rectangular shaped from the outside and from the inside has a cruciform shape, and at the four corners it has the entry. Four columns are supporting the stalactite vault. On the south-east there is a separate column with an inscription, which says: «Hovannes… remember…», supposedly the name of the architect. According to «Catoghike» 1244’ inscription, the benefactors of the monuments were Vachutyan Kurd king and his wife Khorishah. There is also a small bell-tower (XIIIc.) with a cross-stone, which was used as a mausoleum. In the monastery yard there are the remnants of the cross and tomb-stones.