Seven Churches - Varagavank Monastery Located on the slopes of Mount Erek, about 9 km southeast of Van city center, lies the Seven Churches Monastery, also known as Varagavank Monastery in Armenian. The monastery was constructed in the early 11th century by Senekerim-Hovhannes Artsruni, the Armenian King of Vaspurakan, on an already existing religious site. Initially, it served as the necropolis for the Artsruni kings before becoming an archbishopric. It is believed to have been one of the most significant and extensive monasteries of ancient Armenia. The monastery is made up of seven churches: Church of St. Sofia, Church of St. John, Church of the Holy Mother of God, Church of Zhamatun of St. George, Chapel of the Holy Seal, Church of the Holy Cross, and Church of St. Sion. In addition, there is a jamatun (monastic complex), a library, and a bell tower. Among the remaining structures, the oldest is the Church of Saint Sophia, constructed in the 8th century, though only parts of it still stand. Adjacent to the north wall is the Church of Saint John, which is now in ruins. The Church of the Holy Virgin Mary, built between 1003-1021, is the monastery's main church. Its rectangular layout features an east-west orientation from the exterior, and its interior is divided into four spaces, each located at the corners. The church is characterized by semi-circular niches with planar walls, though its dome has collapsed over time. If you have any questions or inquiries regarding Seven Churches - Varagavank Monastery, please don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or simply message us via Whatsapp, and we will respond as soon as possible.