Kecharis Monastery - the ensemble of ancient buildings and a classic example of medieval Armenian architectural art, located in the northwest of the resort town of Tsakhkadzor, on the slopes of Pambak Ridge. The monastery complex consists of four churches, two chapels, and gavit ancient cemetery with stone khachkars XII-XIII Art.

Construction Kecharis Monastery was begun in the XI century., But completely finished until the middle of XIII century. Construction work was carried out with funds donated by princes Pahlavuni.

First in the monastery complex was built Gregory the Illuminator Church, which is the main temple of the ensemble. The decree on the construction of the temple published in 1033 the owner of the land - Grigor Pahlavuni. This is evidenced by the inscription on the southern door of the church, which can be seen today.

Gregory the Illuminator Church was made in a spacious hall, crowned by a wide dome. The dome was destroyed in 1828 during a strong earthquake. The external decoration of the church rather modest. Portals inputs bordered protruding columns and narrow windows - small arches.

To the south is a small church - St Nshan was built at the beginning of XI century. The church is crowned with a dome with a high circular drum.

In 1214 the new owner of the region - the prince Vasak Hagbakyanom - was erected another church of the monastery complex - St. Katoghike, is a true masterpiece of architecture. Facade cruciform shape, a high dome and niches in the prayer hall indicate the complexity of the architectural construction. Slim silhouette of the temple, an elegant interior correspond to the best artistic traditions of those times.

The fourth temple Kecharis Monastery - the church of St. Harutyun was built in 1220 it is a rectangular church with a cylindrical dome on a high drum.

Between Surb Nshan and Gregory the Illuminator was formerly a small chapel XI century., Which served as a burial vault of Grigor Pahlavuni. In the beginning of XIII century. almost all the monastic buildings destroyed by the Mongol-Tatars, but in the middle of the century they were fully recovered.