Vanevan Monastery

Vanevan Monastery lies in a picturesque gorge south of the village of Artsvanist and southeast of Lake Sevan in Armenia’s Gegharkunik Province. Its main church, dedicated to Saint Gregory, was built in 903 by Prince Shapuh Bagratuni and his sister Mariam, siblings of King Smbat I. The church at the southern end may have been built at about the same time, while the gavit between them was added later. In the late 10th century, King Gagik I of the Bagratid dynasty restored the Church of Saint Gregory and built the surrounding wall.