Makaravank monastery

Makaravank Monastery is situated in Tavush region (close to Ijevan) high on the top of a mountain. The complex consists of three churches. Here along with complicated architectural solutions the subtle bas-relieves and ornaments are of great artistic interest. The monastic complex of Makaravank with the originality, richness and differences of its ornaments is ranked among Akhtamar, Bgheno Noravank and Gandzasar, taking an important place in the Armenian architecture. There is a legend about Makaravank, according to which the monastery was built by one master called Makar and his son. His son used to polish and ornament the stones and his father built the walls. The walls of the monastery were rising little by little and master Makar was cut off from the ground. He used to spend the nights on the incomplete walls of the monastery until he finished the building. One day master Makar noticed that the stones were not in line with each other and the ornaments also were not the same as before. He asked what had happened to his son. They answered that his son was ill. Makar understood that his son was dead and he threw himself from the top of the monastery and dead. The master was buried under the wall of the monastery, which was called Makaravank. According to the record of the khachkar located in the south the main church was built in 1205. The second church of Makaravank monastery (X-XI centuries) is in the north-east of the complex.