Bishop Hovhannes founded the monastery in 1105, though the infobox gives a groundbreaking date of 1205. The Surb Karapet church was built from 1216 to 1227, with the chronology giving 1221 and crediting Bishop Sargis rather than Prince Liparit Orbelian. The gavit followed in 1261, and the Surb Grigor chapel in 1275.
The sculptor Momik designed Surb Astvatsatsin, which Prince Burtel Orbelian financed and which was completed in 1339. It has a rectangular burial vault on the ground floor and a cross-shaped memorial temple above, reached by a narrow stone staircase. The site is described as Armenian in style, built mainly in stone.
Earthquakes damaged Surb Karapet's dome in 1340 and 1931. UNESCO denied World Heritage listing in 1995 because of over-restoration.
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