Arcaded galleries
On the sides.
Soghomon Matevosyan — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Emma YSU — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Armenak Margarian — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Soghomon Matevosyan — CC BY-SA 4.0
Odzun Church is an early church of pinkish stone on a green plateau in northern Armenia. A long building with a central dome has arcaded galleries on its sides, forested mountains rise behind it, and stone crosses and gravestones surround it. The first church here dates from the 6th century; it was rebuilt in the 8th century by Catholicos Hovhannes III Odznetsi, born in the village, giving it its present form: a three-nave basilica of pink felsite. Unusual arcaded cloisters run along its sides, and the east facade bears a carving of Christ with two angels. It was restored between 2012 and 2014. You walk around the church to see the arcades and the carvings on its facades, among the gravestones with the mountains around. The church is about 7 km in a straight line southwest of Alaverdi, near the monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin. It is a working church, so cover your shoulders and knees, women usually cover their heads, and keep quiet.
On the sides.
On the facade.
Around the plateau.
Odzun village, Lori Province, northern Armenia
Haghpat and Sanahin monasteries.
Modest clothes.