Sanahin Monastery

Sanahin is a medieval monastic complex, a precious gem of Armenian architecture located in the North of the country, in the province of Lori, situated 165km far from Yerevan city. According to documents and evidence of material culture this structure belongs to the 10th century AD. The name Sanahin in Armenian means “older than that” evoking that it is older than the nearby Haghpat monastery. Sanahin was a major monastery in the region, its patrons, the Zakarians, expanded it to its height of eminence as a school of illuminators and calligraphers, as well as a college of religion, philosophy and science, during the 12-13th centuries.​It is encircled by a fortified wall, making it a formidable fortress in times of attack. In 2001 Sanahin monastery complex was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List.