Jukhtakvank monastery complex

This and subsequent monastery complexes, which we will describe below, cannot boast the same popularity among tourists as Haghartsin or Goshavank. But this doesn’t diminish their historical and aesthetic value, but rather the opposite it awakens even greater tourist and research interest in them. After all, not much information is kept about these temples.

Unfortunately, at present, Jukhtakvank and Aghavnavank are in a dilapidated state, and the Matosovank complex is in ruins.

Jukhtakvank (Jukhtak) is located 3 km west of Dilijan, on a mountain slope, between small tributaries of the Aghstev River.

The monastery complex consists of two churches, the Holy Mother of God (1201) and St. Gregory. That is why people called the complex “jukhtakavank”, in translation – “paired temple”. The monastery is referred to as Gisheravank (night monastery) in some sources.

“In the inscriptions preserved on the walls of the churches, the ancient names of the monastery are mentioned, in one inscription as Petrosi vank (Temple of Peter, ed.), in the other as Gisheravank.”

The Church of the Holy Mother of God (Surb Astvatsatsin) is the western building of the monastery complex. The walls of the church are decorated with inscriptions, one of them with the name Sarkis, the builder of the church.

“The church is rectangular both outside and inside. It’s without columns and a dome. In its shape, it resembles a single-nave basilica with a vaulted ceiling and a gable roof over it, with a beautiful cornice. In the eastern part, there is an altar and two small tabernacles with windows. The floor and roof are covered with stone slabs. The only entrance is on the west side”.

The Church of St. Gregory is located 20 meters farther east of the Church of the Holy Mother of God and is a small central-domed structure distinguished by skillful stone carvings and bas-reliefs. Probably, the church was built somewhat earlier than the Church of the Holy Mother of God. 

Near the church, there are several medieval khachkars decorated with fine carvings. There is also a small medieval burial ground.