Ozun Monastery

Odzun Monastery is the oldest monastery of Echmiadzin, which is located near the confluence of the two rivers Araks and Akhuryan. According to legend, it was founded by the first Catholicos Gregory the Illuminator. At the end of the tenth century, during the reign of the Bagratid dynasty, it became an important religious center with a large number of temples. During the second major invasion of the Persians in the early XV century, the monastery was completely destroyed. According to some sources, the monastery was restored several times, but in this form has not reached our days. Currently, on the site of the monastery there is a museum of antiquities, which is a small chapel dedicated to Catholicos Gregor I (XII-XIII centuries) and his wife Anna, whose relics are currently in the monastery. The chapel has a spring whose water is considered healing.

How to get to Odzun Monastery (Armenia)

The monastery is located 4 kilometers from the city of Sevan towards Ararat, near the border with Georgia. At this point, the state highway ends, a primer passes. There are also tourist routes along it. You can get there in different ways. The easiest and fastest – by bus from Yerevan to Sevan, then by taxi or by way (to Sevan still need to walk). Given the travel time, as well as the difficulties of the relief, it is better to take a longer route. From there, you can reach the city with the help of locals, buses or on foot. Another option is to take a minibus to the village of Tashir, then go on foot, either to the monastery itself, or even further. From the village there is a small asphalt area, but then the road goes along a mountain path. The journey to the monastery will take from half an hour to two hours.