Principal Monasteries of the Caucasus and Armenia

• Etchmiadzin Monastic Complex – Vagharshapat, Armenia. The spiritual centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
• Geghard Monastery – Armenia. One of the most famous monastic complexes of Armenia.
• Tatev Monastery – Syunik, Armenia. The greatest monastery of southern Armenia.
• Haghpat Monastery – Lori, Armenia. Major monastic and scholarly centre of medieval Armenia.
• Sanahin Monastery – Lori, Armenia. Historic Armenian monastery and UNESCO site.
• Sevanavank Monastery – Lake Sevan, Armenia. Famous monastery on the shores of Lake Sevan.
• Dadivank Monastery – Artsakh/Caucasus. Historic Armenian monastery of the eastern Caucasus.

Central Armenia and Ararat

• Etchmiadzin Monastic Complex – Vagharshapat. The principal spiritual and monastic centre of Armenia.
• Khor Virap Monastery – Ararat plain. Monastery associated with Saint Gregory the Illuminator.
• Geghard Monastery – Kotayk. Famous partly rock-cut monastery.
• Monastery of Saint Hripsime – Vagharshapat. Ancient convent and pilgrimage site.
• Monastery of Saint Gayane – Vagharshapat. Historic women’s monastery.

Southern Armenia and Syunik

• Tatev Monastery – Syunik. The greatest monastery of southern Armenia.
• Noravank Monastery – Vayots Dzor. One of the most beautiful monasteries of Armenia.
• Gndevank Monastery – southern Armenia. Historic medieval monastery.
• Vorotnavank Monastery – Syunik. Important monastic centre of southern Armenia.
• Tsitsernavank Monastery – southern Caucasus. Historic Armenian monastery.

Northern Armenia and Lori

• Haghpat Monastery – Lori. One of the greatest monasteries of medieval Armenia.
• Sanahin Monastery – Lori. Sister monastery of Haghpat.
• Akhtala Monastery – Lori. Important monastery noted for its frescoes.
• Kobayr Monastery – Lori. Historic Armenian monastic foundation.
• Marmashen Monastery – northern Armenia. Medieval Armenian monastery.

Lake Sevan and Eastern Armenia

• Sevanavank Monastery – Lake Sevan. The most famous monastery of eastern Armenia.
• Hayravank Monastery – Lake Sevan. Historic monastery on the lake shore.
• Makravank Monastery – Tavush. Important monastery of northeastern Armenia.
• Goshavank Monastery – Tavush. Historic monastic and intellectual centre.
• Haghartsin Monastery – Tavush. Major forest monastery of northeastern Armenia.

Azerbaijan and the Eastern Caucasus

• Dadivank Monastery – eastern Caucasus. Historic Armenian monastery.
• Gandzasar Monastery – eastern Caucasus. Major medieval Armenian monastery.
• Russian Orthodox Monastery of Saint Michael – Azerbaijan. Small Orthodox monastic community associated with the Russian Orthodox Church.
• Monastic House of Saint Nicholas – Baku region. Small Orthodox monastic residence.

Female Monasteries and Convents of Special Importance

• Monastery of Saint Hripsime – Vagharshapat. One of the most important Armenian convents.
• Monastery of Saint Gayane – Vagharshapat. Historic women’s monastery of Armenia.
• Convent of the Holy Mother of God – Armenia. Important Armenian women’s monastery.
• Convent of Saint Nino – Caucasus region. Women’s monastic community.

Observations

• Armenia possesses one of the oldest and richest monastic traditions in the Christian world.
• Etchmiadzin, Geghard, Tatev, Haghpat, and Sanahin are the most important monastic centres of Armenia.
• Most monasteries in Armenia belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church rather than Eastern Orthodoxy proper, but they form part of the wider Orthodox and Oriental Christian tradition.
• The Armenian monasteries of the Caucasus preserve a unique architectural style and a continuous spiritual tradition extending back to Late Antiquity.
• Azerbaijan today possesses only a very small Orthodox monastic presence.