Geghard Monastery

Geghard is a medieval monastery in the Kotayk province of Armenia, which is partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs [1]. Some of the churches within the monastery complex are entirely dug out of the cliff rocks, others are little more than caves, while others are elaborate structures [1]. There are numerous engraved and free-standing khachkars [1]. The monastery was founded in the 4th century, according to tradition by Gregory the Illuminator [1]. The site is that of a spring arising in a cave which had been sacred in pre-Christian times, hence one of the names by which it was known, Ayrivank [1]. Though there are inscriptions dating to the 1160s, the main church "Kathoghike" was built in 1215 under the auspices of the brothers Zakare and Ivane, the generals of Queen Tamar of Georgia [1]. West of the main temple there is a rock-attached vestry, in Armenian gavit built between 1215 and 1225, linked to the main church [1]. The first cave chamber, Avazan, situated north-west of the vestry, was hewn in the 1240s in an ancient cave with a spring [1].