HOVHANNAVANK' / (Vth)-Xlllth century
The monastery of St. John stands some 6 kilometers from Ashtarak on the edge of the deep valley of the Kasał river. The monastery developed in the Xlllth century on the ruins of an early church dating probably from the Vth century. At present it flanks the main church built in 1217. The latter is a domed hall with four very narrow angular rooms (the western rooms are two storied with staircases visible against the walls).
The polychromatic tufs used for the interior decoration of the church and the elegant cross in relief on the east façade are especially noteworthy. The dome of the church and part of the south side collapsed in 1918.
The square gavit with a small dome supported by twelve colonnettes has, on the contrary, been well preserved. The geometric motifs on the ceilings and the bas-relief decorating the small lunette of the portal into the church are quite remarkable.
The interior and exterior walls of the gavit and of the main church are covered with inscriptions and Khach’k’ars.

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