Noravank monastery, located near the town of Yeghegnadzor, which is 120 km from Yerevan in a deep gorge of the river Arpa among huge cliffs.

The monastery was founded XII Art. During the reign of the princes of Orbelian the monastery was a major religious center. In the fourteenth article. it was a residence of the bishops of Syunik. Temple had close ties with many institutions, but first and foremost to the famous university and library of Gladzor. There is a legend that in Noravank is a piece of the cross, the sprinkling of the blood of Christ.

With the name of the monastery of the Armenian language is translated as "a new monastery." Although at the moment it is hardly true to its name, since the age of this church is more than seven centuries. Sometimes referred to as the Monastery of Noravank Amaghu, and all this because of the fact that it is somehow possible to be distinguished from the Noravank monastery, located near the town of Goris.

Structures Noravank monastery was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. The last restoration was carried out recently. The main church of the monastery was built in 1216-1223, the - St. Karapet. In 1275 the north side of the main temple built a church of St. Gregory.

The most magnificent building of the monastery is considered to be a two-storey church of St. Astvatsatsin, erected in 1339 during the reign of Prince Burtel Orbelian. The rectangular building of the church of St. Astvatsatsin - highly artistic architectural monument. It stands on a high strong foundation that gives Temple grand and monumental. The main facade of the church has a cruciform shape. The temple is decorated with a beautiful dome. The first floor of the building occupies a tomb, and the second - the chapel. The most prominent is the western facade of the church. It built two cantilevered staircase leading to the second tier. Extant city wall and adjacent buildings were constructed in XVII-XVIII Art.

Around the monastery complex Noravank are many khachkars, among which deserve special attention khachkars carved Momik.