Goshavank

Introducing Goshavank

Goshavank Monastery stands in the mountain village of Gosh, founded in 1188 by the saintly Armenian cleric Mkhitar Gosh, who was buried in a little chapel overlooking the main complex. Goshavank features a main church (Surp Astvatsatsin) and smaller churches to St Gregory and St Gregory the Illuminator. The tower on the matenadaran (library) was once taller than the main church. With a school attached, the library is said to have held 15, 000 books before it was burned by Timur’s army in the 13th century.

Considered one of the principal cultural centres of Armenia in its time, historians believe Goshavank was abandoned at the end of the 14th century. Goshavank then appears to have been reoccupied in the 17th to 19th centuries and restored from 1957 to 1963. The local custodian, Zarik, is a delightful guide and loves to demonstrate the acoustics in the main church with an old prayer. She may also show you a museum filled with artefacts collected from the area.

Zarik’s son Armen Grigoryan (094949 001) organises guided hikes to Gosh Lich (Gosh lake; 2.5km away), caves and forgotten forts in the mountain forests. A trek to the little-known remains of Ak Kilise (Turkish for ‘White Church’) takes about six hours.

Another walk leads 6km to Parz Lich along a marked trail. However, most hikers usually take a taxi to Parz Lich and start the walk there, as it’s easier to get transport out from Gosh. There are usually some people at Parz Lich who can show you the trailhead.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009