Marmashen Monastery
The complex consists of two groups of monuments, known as Mets (Big) and Pokr (Little, also known as Verin or Upper). The main church of the monastery is Katoghike (988-1029), built by Prince Vahram Pahlavuni.
Marmashen Monastry Complex
The monastery is located on the left bank of the Akhurian River, between the villages of Vahramaberd and Marmashen. In the middle ages, it was an outstanding religious and cultural center with a repository for manuscripts.
The complex consists of two groups of monuments, known as Mets (Big) and Pokr (Little, also known as Verin or Upper). The main church of the monastery is Katoghike (988-1029), built by Prince Vahram Pahlavuni.
It is a domed hall with four pylons, an outstanding example of the Ani school of Armenian architecture. It is attributed to the gifted architect T'rdat. Attached on the western side is the gavit-sepulcher.
To the north lies the second church, probably built at the same time as Katoghike. Smaller in size, it repeats the Katoghike's composition and architectural patterns.
To the south of Katoghike is a third church (11th c.). Rectangular on the outside, it is actually a central-dome cruciform on the inside with four chambers in the corners. A fourth church was uncovered during 1954-56 excavations.
Circular on the outside, its domed interior once had four small annexes and apses, with only the stylobate and the two bottom lines of the masonry preserved today. On the eastern and southern sides of the group of monuments is the cemetery.
Pokr or Verin Marmashen sits on a hill which lies to the north of the Mets monument group. The area boasts the ruins of the domed cruciform church and a medieval cemetery.
The monastery was repeatedly ruined throughout the history and renovated in 1225 by Vahram Pahlavuni's grandsons, Archbishop Grigor and Prince Gharib, and, in 1870 – by Mkrtich Jalalyan. Catholicos of All Armenians Mkrtich I Vanetsi initiated reconstruction works in 1900.
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