Sanahin Monastery

Sanahin Monastery is located in the Lore province of the Republic of Armenia.

The monastery complex was built in the 10th-13th centuries. It is located in the province of Lore, in the former village of Sanahin. Since 1996, it has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List along with the Akhpat Monastery.

The first (Virgin Mary) church of the monastery was built in the 30s-40s of the 10th century during the reign of King Abbas I Bagratuni. In 966, King Ashot III the Merciful and Queen Khosrowanuysh built the Church of the Savior. Their sons Kvirike (Gurgen) and Smbat founded a congregation, a secondary school, and invited clergy, scholars, and writers.

In 979, by decree of King Smbat II of Armenia, the Sanahin monastery complex became the episcopal center of the newly formed Cyrician kingdom.

Starting from the second half of the 11th century, during the Seljuk invasions and their rule, as well as after the fall of the Tashir-Dzoraketi kingdom, the Sanahin monastery declined. In the 1280s, this territory became the domain of the Mkhargdzheles, and their dynasty was called the Zakharid dynasty, after Zacharias Mkhargdzheles in Armenia. The Mkhargdzheles/Zacharids renovated the monastery, built a bell tower, as well as farm buildings. They also built the Sanahin arch bridge during the same period.