St Hovhannes Anpastants Monastery

The three domed churches of Meghri occupy a special place in the late medieval architecture of Syunik. One of them is the 17th century St. Hovhannes Church. It is located in the northern highlands of Meghri. It is a four-aisled, domed, basilical structure. The church is built of local basalt stone, and the dome is made of brick. The rectangular hall extending from west to east is divided into three naves by two pairs of piers. The spherical dome is placed in the center of the prayer hall. The drum is cylindrical on the inside, polygonal on the outside with 12 aisles. The only entrance is from the west. The interior of the church is decorated with brick decorative arches. The niches and arches have an emphasized arrow shape. Adjacent to the church on the west side is a rectangular-plan, semicircular nave, and three-arched open hall (now a ruin). The monastery is known among the people as Anapastants, meaning it has brought vulnerable people under its shelter, preserved them and introduced them to a healthy life. In 2019, the church was renovated by the French “Land and Culture” national organization. The church has frescoes dating back to the 18th century.