bird eye view geghard medieval monastery the kotayk province armenia

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Bird`s eye view of Geghard medieval monastery in the Kotayk province of Armenia Royalty Free Stock Photo

Bird`s eye view of Geghard medieval monastery in the Kotayk province of Armenia

Being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with enhanced protection status. While the main chapel was built in 1215, the monastery complex was founded in the 4th century by Gregory the Illuminator at the site of a sacred spring inside a cave. The monastery had thus been originally named Ayrivank, meaning the Monastery of the Cave. The spectacular towering cliffs surrounding the monastery are part of the Azat River gorge, and are included together with the monastery in the World Heritage Site listing. Some of the churches within the monastery complex are entirely dug out of the cliff rocks, others are little more than caves, while others are elaborate structures, with both architecturally complex walled sections and rooms deep inside the cliff.