Gndevank Monastery

Gndevank Monastery (Arm. Mon. Gndevank) is a Catholic monastery of the Armenian Apostolic Church located in the Vayots Dzor region of Armenia in the village of Gndevap in the Aragatsotn region. In the seventeenth century, two Catholicos lived in the monastery. According to legend, the monastery was founded by Catholicos Ezras, who in 1614 left the monastery and founded a monastery. There is also a legend that Ezras was converted to Christianity. Nerses the Great, under whom the monastery became the spiritual center of Armenia. Today, the monastery is one of the most important places of pilgrimage both in Armenia and far beyond its borders. On the territory of the monastery there is a church and three chapels, including the chapel of St. Barbara. Inside the monastery in the crypt lie two Catholicos of the XVII century – Catholicos Hakob I and Catholicos Nerses Schnorali. The monastery is adjacent to a large garden with numerous architectural monuments located in it. The most important of these are the Trčka Monastery, the Church of St. Mary and the Chapel of St. Etchmiadzin. The monastery garden was presented to the monastery at the beginning of the XIX century by Prince K. A. Imeretinsky. The garden is rich in its unique plants. The gardens of Gndevank Monastery are a very popular place for collecting medicinal herbs.

How do I get there?

The monastery is located 15 km from the city of Vagharshapat. The road to the monastery goes through the villages of Areni and Metsamor. The monastery is located 10 km east of Lake Sevan on the territory of the Tatev reserve. How do I get there? You can get from Yerevan by bus coming from the center, or by bus from the stop “Gl. Square”. The monastery is one of the most beautiful monasteries in Armenia.