An inscription in one of the churches says Princess Mariam, daughter of Ashot I, founded the monastery in 874. The infobox gives completion in the 9th century and style as Armenian. Two churches remain, Surp Arakelots (Holy Apostles) and Surp Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God). Both are cruciform with octagonal tambours and look quite similar. The article gives no dimensions for them.
Next to them stand the ruins of a gavit with khachkars. The gavit's roof originally rested on six wooden columns, and a carved walnut door dated 1486 came from the Holy Apostles church.
Lowering of the lake in the Soviet era dropped the water about 66 feet (20 m) and turned the island into a peninsula. The complex was reconstructed from 1956 to 1957. It is an active monastery with a theological seminary.
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