Sevanavank - Sevan, Shirak ARMENIA
Posted by: 
MAGEpirate
N 40° 33.841 E 045° 00.627
38T E 500884 N 4490360
Ancient Armenian monastery dating back to the late 800's AD, located on a peninsula on Lake Sevan
Waymark Code: WM27ZY
Location: Armenia
Date Posted: 09/19/2007
Views: 237
Sevanavank is a very ancient monastery of the Armenian Apostolic Church. This site has been important for centuries both as an educational training center and as a pilgrimage destination. Today, the complex consists of two churches, one dedicated to the Apostles, and one dedicated to St. Mary, as well as an active seminary for the training of priests. The churches are located on a high hill overlooking what was once an island setting along the western shores of Lake Sevan, although it is now a peninsula due to declining water levels. The shoreline and lowland areas below the monastery have become a favorite vacation spot for Armenians and tourists alike, as there are beautiful beaches on the pure, deep, blue-green waters of Sevan, and restaurants nearby serving the local specialty, Ishkan of the Prince of Fish, the Lake Sevan trout. Lake Sevan is the largest alpine lake on earth.
The churches on the hillside above were built in Christian times, but the site has been a holy site since 20,000 years ago. Pictographs dating back to those earlier times include some of the earliest know records of constellations ever recorded, indicating that the people of Ancient Armenia were looking to the heavens from this location many, many long centuries before the Armenian people were recognized as a nation. The church buildings were made of tufa, a basaltic stone common in this volcanic region. Numerous Khachkars, ancient ornately carved stone crosses carved in tufa stones, can be seen all around the grounds. Obisidian and the beautiful blue-green Sevan turquoise stones can also be found here.
Full name of the abbey/monastery/convent: Sevanavank
Address:
Sevanavank Monastery
Vaskenian Theological Semianry
Sevan, Shirak Armenia
38610
Religious affiliation: Armenian Apostolic Church( Oriental Orthodox Christian)
Date founded/constructed: 874
Web Site: Not listed
Status of Use: Not listed
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