Foundation: 14th century
Location: Vernashen village, Vayots Dzor province
Distance from Yerevan: 150 km (3 hours)
Spitakavor Monastery (White Monastery) is located on the slopes of Teksar mountains, 7 kilometers north of Vernashen village. The monastery was built of polished white felsite stone by Proshian princes. The construction began by Prince Eachi and completed by his son Prince Amir Hasan II. Later on the narthex was built, and there after Hovhannes Proshian added a three-story belfry to the Complex.
The remains of the Armenian Resistance leader Garegin Njdeh were secretly buried in the yard of Spitakavor Monastery.
You will have to take a 7 kilometers hike through an amazing terrain from Vernashen village to get to the Monastery; another 2 kilometers and you will get to Boloraberd Fortress (13th century).
The Complex:
- The Entrance
- Foundations
- St. Astvatsatsin church (1318 – 1321)
- Gavit or narthex (1321 - 1330)
- Bell tower (1330)
- Garegin Njdeh's grave (buried on May 9,1987)