St. Astvatsatsin dates to the 930s to 950s, built under King Abas I Bagratuni. St. Amenaprkich (Holy Savior), the largest building in the complex, was built in 966 by Queen Khosrovanush, and its facade shows Kyurike and Smbat holding a church model. An inscription names Zhamhayr as the architect of its 1181 vestibule, which Abbot Yovhannēs built.
The monastery is built of local light gray polished basalt, used for roofing too. Its forms are simple and monumental, with restrained emphasis on cornices, doors and window frames. The library and St. Gregory's Chapel date to 1061 to 1063, and the article calls the library the oldest Armenian library. The bell tower, from the early 13th century, is called one of the earliest of its type.
UNESCO inscribed it with Haghpat in 1996.
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