The Monastery of Surb Sargis (Saint Sargis) sits just outside the village of Ushi, in Armenia's Aragatsotn region, only a short drive from Yerevan.
People have lived on this spot since prehistoric times. In the Middle Ages the monastery grew into an important place of learning and a popular pilgrimage site, linked to Saint Sargis, a much-loved warrior saint.
The complex is about 45 by 54 metres. A small Surb Sargis church still stands, next to the ruins of a much bigger main church that has mostly collapsed. Scattered around you can see old colonnades, carved stone fragments and beautifully carved khachkars (Armenian cross-stones) that hint at how grand the site once was. It is a calm, rarely crowded place with a little picnic area nearby, set in the countryside below Mount Aragats.
Like old monasteries? Pair your visit with nearby Tegher Monastery. Want to explore more? Discover best tours of the Aragatsotn region.
