Yeghishe Arakyal Monastery is an Armenian Apostolic

Armenian Apostolic Church

The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...

 monastery

Monastery

Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...

 located on the bank of the Yeghsharakel River in the Mardakert region of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...

. Because of the close proximity to the militarized border, no visitors are allowed to travel to the monastery.

Yeghishe Arakyal Monastery was built sometime in the 5th century and expanded in the 13th century. The minster is surrounded by 7 chapel

Chapel

A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...

s, one of which is the tomb of King Vachagan III, also known as Vachagan the Pious (487-510).

External links

• Yeghishe Arakyel Monastery at Armeniapedia.org