Arates Monastery
Local legend suggests that this monastery’s name comes from the Armenian words ari (come) and tes (see). The complex contains several structures including the church of St. Sion (9th to 10th centuries), the church of St. Astvatsatsin (mid-11th century), and the church of St. Karapet (early 13th century). A gavit (an entrance hall) was added in the 1270s to the facades of St. Karapet and St. Astvatsatsin. Archaeological research discovered a few architectural fragments of one of the window covers of the gavit decorated with muqarnas, a distinctly honeycombed form of vaulting that emerged from traditional Islamic and Persian architecture. For centuries, Armenia was at the crossroads of many empires. It is not uncommon to see stylistic architectural features borrowed from neighboring empires and cultures employed on churches in Armenia.
Literary sources claim that holy relics were kept in this monastery. The inscriptions found at the site also attest to the military victories and commemorations of Proshian and Orbelian nobility. The monastery doubled as a scriptorium that produced three Gospels in 1303, 1310 and 1586. Khachkars in and around the site dating from the 17th and 18th centuries suggest that Arates was an active center of worship for several centuries.
The ruins of Arates monastery (Photos by
Rick Ney, AMAP Human Development NGO)
Arates monastery (Panorama by 360° Stories)
Historical Attractions