Saghmosavank Monastery

Sagmosavank (Սաղմոսավանք), the Monastery of the Psalms, stands on a high bluff above the Kasagh River, north of Ashtarak. Founded in 1215—just a year before nearby Hovhannavank—it exemplifies late Armenian architecture of the “Gandzasar type,” a style born in the period of Georgian political dominance. Its proximity to Yerevan makes it easily accessible.

Legend holds that the site’s first church was founded by Gregory the Illuminator. Here, monks are said to have studied psalms, which gave the monastery its name—sagmos meaning “psalm” in Armenian.

The main church of the complex is Surb Sion (Holy Zion). Construction began in 1215, under the reign of King Giorgi Lasha of Georgia. At the time, Prince Ivane Mkhargrdzeli ruled Armenia, and Aragatsotn was under the Vachutyan princes. It was Prince Vache Vachutyan who commissioned the church, likely using Arichavank (built in 1201) as a model. A year later, he would lay the foundations for Hovhannavank, and, in the same era, Gandzasar Monastery would rise in Karabakh. These three churches now define what is known as the “Gandzasar style.” Sagmosavank differs only in that its dome is conical, not umbrella-shaped. Both Sagmosavank and Hovhannavank stand atop cliffs overlooking the Kasagh Gorge—so similar in appearance they are often mistaken for one another in photographs.

Construction of Surb Sion was completed in 1221. Shortly after, a gavit (narthex) was added. While the exact date of its construction is uncertain, it is likely that Vache oversaw this addition as well, since he died in 1230—just before the Mongol invasion. This places the gavit’s construction sometime between 1221 and 1230.

In 1235, Vache’s son Kurd added a small southern chapel, Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God).

Finally, in 1255, a member of the Vachutyan family built a library to the south. This structure stands out as a rare example of non-religious medieval Armenian architecture. By that time, Armenia was no longer under Georgian rule. The Mongols had arrived, and plans were already underway for a joint military campaign against Baghdad.

Sagmosavank became renowned for its manuscript collection. The library was both a center for copying and illustrating manuscripts and an architectural rarity in its own right. Its austere façade—equal in height to the main church—contrasts with the richness of its interior. The vaulted ceiling is crowned with an octagonal rotunda. Carved geometric and vegetal patterns decorate the ceiling and archways. The interior is striking in color: red and black stones interspersed with white and yellow-painted sections create a layered visual texture rarely found in other Armenian monastic buildings.

agmosavank lies just 1.8 kilometers off the Yerevan–Spitak highway. Though close, signage from the main road is limited and easy to miss. If you’re taking a Spitak-bound minibus, you can ask the driver to let you off near the village of Artashavan—typically right at the turnoff. From there, walk eastward, pass through Artashavan, climb a small hill, continue through the village of Sagmosavan, and you’ll reach the monastery at the road’s end. Midway along the route, there’s a small restaurant. Just before the monastery, an open space serves as a parking lot, where elderly locals sometimes sell trinkets.

One additional site nearby is worth a visit. On the northern edge of Artashavan stands the Amenaprkich Church, likely dating to the 7th century. Only 1.5 kilometers separate the two churches in a straight line, though the walk takes longer. Near Amenaprkich, you’ll find a picnic table and a water source—making it possible to explore both sacred sites in one visit.