Hovhannavank Monastery

Hovhannavank (Armenian: Հովհաննավանք) is an ancient Armenian monastery in the picturesque village of Ohanavan in Armenia’s Aragatsotn Province. Located in the historical region of Ayrarat, it played an important role in the life of the Armenian Church.

In the past, Hovhannavank was one of Armenia’s most revered and significant monasteries. According to tradition, it housed a sacred cloth in which the hand of Jesus Christ had been wrapped, as well as a nail said to have pierced his right hand. The right hand relic of Saint Stephen was also kept here before being transferred to Etchmiadzin for safekeeping.

The monastery was repeatedly damaged by earthquakes and wartime shelling, including during the Russo-Persian War, but it was restored each time and continued to serve the faithful. Today, Hovhannavank attracts tourists and pilgrims with its history, architecture and spiritual atmosphere.