Kecharis Monastery

Kecharis Monastery tickets: which one to buy

Kecharis Monastery stands in the ski resort town of Tsaghkadzor, in central Armenia, about an hour's drive north of Yerevan, on the slopes of Mount Teghenis, and entry is free. It is one of the most important medieval monasteries in Armenia, set among pine forests. Tsaghkadzor, whose name means valley of flowers, is a popular resort for skiing in winter and hiking in summer, and visitors often combine the monastery with a cable car ride up the mountain and with Lake Sevan, about half an hour away.

A car or tour from Yerevan is the easiest way to reach it. The monastery is active, and visitors should dress modestly. The churches are small and dimly lit. The views from the monastery over the valley are beautiful. Minibuses from Yerevan to Tsaghkadzor leave from the northern bus station and take about an hour.

Visiting Kecharis Monastery: what to see

The monastery was founded in the eleventh century, in 1033, by Prince Grigor Pahlavuni, and it became an important religious and educational centre, with a school. The complex includes four churches and a gavit, or narthex, built between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries of grey and pinkish stone. The main church, Saint Gregory the Illuminator, is the oldest, and the others are the Church of Saint Nshan, the Church of the Resurrection, known as Katoghike, and a small chapel. The churches are decorated with carved stonework, and several khachkars, cross-stones, stand in the grounds, some of them finely carved. Inscriptions on the walls record the history of the monastery and its benefactors. The monastery was damaged by earthquakes and invasions, and it was restored in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

The gavit's roof is supported by carved stone columns, and its walls hold inscriptions. The Church of Saint Gregory has a dome decorated with carved stonework. The Katoghike church, built in 1214, has a distinctive facade with carved crosses. The khachkars in the grounds include one from the twelfth century with detailed carving. The monastery's stonework shows the skill of medieval Armenian masons. The chapel is small and simple. The monastery's grounds are surrounded by pine trees and meadows. The church interiors are dim, lit by small windows and candles. Pilgrims light candles in sand trays. Weddings are often held here, especially in summer. The complex is enclosed by a low stone wall. The mountains around Tsaghkadzor rise to more than two thousand metres. Walking trails lead from the town into the forest. The ski lifts start a short walk from the monastery.

Kecharis Monastery opening hours and the best time to go

The monastery is open daily. Tsaghkadzor is busy in winter, from December to March, during the ski season, and in summer, when it is a cool escape from the heat of Yerevan. Spring and autumn are quieter, with beautiful landscapes. Weekends bring many visitors from Yerevan. Allow about half an hour for the monastery, and take the cable car for views over the mountains. Sevanavank, on the peninsula of Lake Sevan, is about half an hour's drive east and has two ninth-century churches.