Sanahin Monastery

Sanahin Monastery is an Armenian monastery founded in the 10th century in the Lori Province of Armenia.

The name Sanahin literally translates from Armenian as "this one is older than that one", presumably representing a claim to having an older monastery than the neighbouring Haghpat Monastery. The two villages and their monasteries are similar in many ways, and lie in plain view of each other on a dissected plateau formation, separated by a deep "crack" formed by a small river flowing into the Debed river.

As with Haghpat, Sanahin is frequented by an increasing number of tourists, due to its recent inclusion on the itineraries of a great number of Armenian tour agencies, the beauty of its monastery complex matching that of Haghpat's. The complex belongs to the Armenian Apostolic Church with numerous khachkars (stones with elaborate engravings representing a cross) and bishop gravesites scattered throughout it.

Sanahin Monastery Սանահին վանք
Amenaprkich (Holy Redeemer) church
Basic information
Location	Sanahin, Lori Province,  Armenia
Geographic coordinates	41.087222°N 44.666111°ECoordinates: 41.087222°N 44.666111°E
Affiliation	Armenian Apostolic Church
Architectural description
Architectural style	Armenian
Groundbreaking	10th century
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name: Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iv
Designated	1996 (20th session)
Reference no.	777
Region	Western Asia

Gallery

St. Gregory chapel

The monastery's library

View of the Sanahin Monastery, Armenia

Khatchkar detail at the monastery

Monastery interior

Interior of Sanahin Monastery, Armenia

Interior of Sanahin Monastery, Armenia

Interior of Sanahin Monastery, Armenia

Interior of Sanahin Monastery, Armenia

16th-century manuscript from the monastery, Czartoryski Museum

Road map of the area around Haghpat and Sanahin monasteries