Amaras Monastery

Confession: Armenian Apostolic Church
Date of foundation: IV century.
Status: Active monastery
Condition: Good
From Yerevan: 375 km/ 6 hours.

Amaras Monastery served as the spiritual and cultural focal point of early medieval Artsakh and functioned as a bishopric. This historic monastery complex is situated in the Martuni region within the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Founded in the 4th century, as attributed to Gregory the Illuminator (according to historian Pavstos Buzand), the construction of the complex is also associated with the name of Artsakh diocese’s inaugural bishop, Grigoris, who was the grandson of Gregory the Illuminator and was laid to rest in the eastern section of the church. A crypt was erected over his burial site. Mesrop Mashtots, the creator of the Armenian alphabet, established the first school of Artsakh here in the 5th century. Concurrently, 36 additional structures were constructed near the church, serving various purposes.

In 489, King Vachagan G discovered Grigoris’s tomb and erected a chapel, subsequently followed by a church. The complex endured incursions by Arab forces and Mongols, resulting in partial damage to the monastery, though resistance from the clergy prevented its complete destruction. Nomadic groups further damaged the fortress walls and the church, but the school continued to operate. During relatively stable periods, particularly in the latter half of the 19th century, the monastery transitioned from its previous religious and cultural role to a mere fortress and later served as a Russian-Persian customs point.

Amaras Monastery stands as a significant early Armenian architectural monument in Artsakh, which you can explore during your visit to the region. Situated on level terrain, it boasts a regular rectangular layout, fortified by robust walls featuring rounded towers at all four corners. Residential and administrative structures line the entire perimeter.

Towards the end of the 19th century, the monastery held estates, including fertile lands, a garden, and a mill. However, after the advent of Soviet rule, it was abandoned and left to deteriorate. In 1992, it was revived as a functioning monastery under the auspices of the Artsakh diocese. Today, Amaras attracts hundreds of visitors annually.