Set in mountainous foothills, this 10th-century monastery overlooks the Yeghegis River and sits in the valley across from Smbataberd fortress. The monastery consists of many buildings scattered several meters apart. A cemetery as well as monks’ quarters are dispersed among the St. Nshan, St. Karapet, St. Astvatsatsin and St. Hovhannes churches.
The medieval historian Stepanos Orbelian claims that in the 5th century, four battles occurred in Vayots Dzor during war against the Sassanids. One battle allegedly took place nearby and helped Armenian nobility secure their autonomy.
A relief in the interior of St. Karapet church (Photo by Rick Ney, AMAP Human Development NGO)
Tsakhats Kar monastery (Photo by Vladimir Grigoryan, AMAP Human Development NGO)
Tsakhats Kar monastery (Photo by Vladimir Grigoryan, AMAP Human Development NGO)
St. Karapet church (Photo by Rick Ney, AMAP Human Development NGO)
Tsakhats Kar Monastery
Historical Attractions