Makaravank

Makaravank Monastery of the 13th century is located on the slopes of Paytataph mount, Tavush Region. It is one of the most significant Medieval Armenian religious architectural monuments. 

The legend says that in the 8th century, there was only a small church of red tuff stone in the place of the Monastery. Makar and his son took up the task of building a monastery around it. The son was cutting the stones and decorating them and the father was building the walls. 

Makar was so involved in his work that he lived on the walls of the Monastery, setting stones and sleeping above each new layer. Years passed and once Makar noticed that the size and decorations of the stones had changed. He called out his son from above to ask what had happened. There was no answer. The workers said that his son was ill but the master understood that his son is dead. Thus he finishes the construction of the Monastery and throws himself down the church.

According to the inscription on the cross-stone, placed to the south of the church, the main church was erected in 1205. Outwardly it is rectangular, inwardly cruciform. It has a domed structure with two-storeyed vestries on both sides of the altar. The second church (X‒XI cc.) is situated in the north-east of Makaravank Complex. St. Astvatsatsin Church — is standing in the eastern part of the complex. St. Astvatsatsin was built in 1198․ The complex also includes a narthex built in 1207 and a relics house of the XIII century.