Vorotnavank
Historic site of Armenia
title: "Vorotnavank" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["christian-monasteries-in-armenia", "tourist-attractions-in-syunik-province", "buildings-and-structures-in-syunik-province"] description: "Historic site of Armenia" topic_path: "society/religion" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorotnavank" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Historic site of Armenia ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox religious building"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| building_name | Vorotnavank |
| Որոտնավանք | |
| image | Vorotnavank 205.JPG |
| image_size | 275 px |
| caption | The monastic complex of Vorotnavank. |
| map_type | Armenia#Syunik |
| map_size | 275 |
| location | On a promontory overlooking the Vorotan gorge, between the villages of Vaghatin and Vorotan, Syunik Province, Armenia |
| coordinates | |
| religious_affiliation | Armenian Apostolic Church |
| architecture | yes |
| architecture_style | Armenian |
| year_completed | In use from the 10th-15th centuries |
| S. Stepanos c. 1000 | |
| S. Karapet c. 1007 | |
| specifications | yes |
| dome_quantity | 1 (rebuilt after its collapse in the 1931 earthquake) |
| :: |
| building_name = Vorotnavank Որոտնավանք | infobox_width = | image = Vorotnavank 205.JPG | image_size = 275 px | alt = | caption = The monastic complex of Vorotnavank. | map_type = Armenia#Syunik | map_size = 275 | location = On a promontory overlooking the Vorotan gorge, between the villages of Vaghatin and Vorotan, Syunik Province, Armenia | coordinates = | religious_affiliation = Armenian Apostolic Church | rite = | region = | state = | province = | territory = | prefecture = | sector = | district = | cercle = | municipality = | consecration_year = | status = | functional_status = | heritage_designation = | leadership = | website = | architecture = yes | architect = | architecture_type = | architecture_style = Armenian | general_contractor = | facade_direction = | groundbreaking = | year_completed = In use from the 10th-15th centuries S. Stepanos c. 1000 S. Karapet c. 1007 | construction_cost = | specifications = yes | capacity = | length = | width = | width_nave = | height_max = | dome_quantity = 1 (rebuilt after its collapse in the 1931 earthquake) | dome_height_outer = | dome_height_inner = | dome_dia_outer = | dome_dia_inner = | minaret_quantity = | minaret_height = | spire_quantity = | spire_height = | materials = | nrhp = | added = | refnum = | designated =
Vorotnavank () is a monastic complex located along a ridge overlooking the Vorotan gorge, between the villages of Vaghatin and Vorotan, about 14 km east of Sisian in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The complex is surrounded by a high stone wall for defense against foreign invasions and once housed workshops, stores, a seminary, resort, cemetery and an alms-house. A pillar stood in the yard of the monastery symbolizing that there were monks entering into religious service and kings inaugurated at this location. Hovhan Vorotnetsi (1315-1398), an Armenian medieval philosopher and theologian as well as the founder of Tatev Vardapetaran University lived and worked at the monastery.
Architecture
Surp Stepanos Church
The main church of Surp Stepanos was built in 1000 by Queen Shahandukht, ruler of the lands of Syunik. Prior to the construction of the church stood a shrine to Saint Grigor Lusavorich. Four sacristies were placed at the southeastern end of S. Stepanos.
Surp Karapet Church
The adjoining church of Surp Karapet was constructed in 1006-1007 by Queen Shahandukht's son Sevada. The structure has a triple-arched portico at the front façade. A circular drum and a recently reconstructed dome rest above the cruciform plan of the church.
Destruction
Vorotnavank was destroyed multiple times by foreign invasions as well as an earthquake in 1931 during which S. Karapet's dome collapsed. In 1104 Seljuk-Turks attacked the monastery and the nearby fortress of Vorotnaberd (3 km southeast). Ivane Zakaryan liberated them and gave control of Vorotnavank and Vorotnaberd to Liparit Orbelian of the Orbelyan family. The monastery was repaired and made funcionable during this time. Other foreign invasions included the Mongol-Tatars (1236?) and later Timur Lenk in 1386. An underground passageway was connected to the fortress of Vorotnaberd, and was used during sieges by invading armies. Reconstruction efforts have been underway since 1980 and are nearly complete.
Gallery
File:Vorotnavank Monastery 2011-1.jpg File:Vorotnavank Monastery 2011-2.jpg Vorotnavank EmmaYSU 01.jpg Vorotnavank 101.jpg Vorotnavank 226.JPG +Vorotnavank Monastery 10.jpg Vorotnavank 245.jpg File:Vorotnavank Monastery 2011-3.jpg +Vorotnavank Monastery 11.jpg +Vorotnavank Monastery 29.jpg File:Vorotnavank4.jpg|Interior of the apse at Vorotnavank. Vorotnavank 155.JPG +Vorotnavank Monastery 03.jpg File:20160608 053-Vorotnavank-Armenien-029.jpg|alt=Area of Vorotnavank|Vorotnavank with monastery wall, monastery garden and old cemetery Vorotnavank 2013 17.jpg +Vorotnavank Monastery 15.jpg +Vorotnavank Monastery 16.jpg +Vorotnavank Monastery 26.jpg +Vorotnavank Monastery 27.jpg Vorotnavank 075.jpg Vorotnavank 074.jpg
References
Bibliography
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