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Sevan is the largest lake in Armenia and the Caucasus region as well as one on the largest and highest freshwater lakes of the world. This huge mountain lake takes up 5% of Armenia's surface area and is about 2,000 meters above sea level. Its depth is 80m, lengh-70km, width-55km. The water is about 18-22 Celsius in the summer. Sevan is fed by 28 rivers. Sevan consists of two unequal parts - Big Sevan and Small Sevan. These parts are merged by 5th km length strait which is located between the peninsulas of Artanish and Noradus. The southern and eastern shores are broad and smooth, while the northern and north-eastern shores are narrow and rocky

Road from Yerevan to Lake Sevan

Fisherman at Sevan Lake

The Lake Sevan has tectonic, volcanic origin. From the geological point of view the Great Sevan is an ancient, intermountain concavity, where there was a water basin in the remote past. A separate lake has been existed as well in the place of the Small Sevan. Archaeological research has shown that 3500 years ago the substantial part of Sevan was occupied by land.

Along with Lake Van and Lake Urmia, Sevan was considered one of the three great lakes of the historical Armenian Kingdom, collectively referred to as the 'Seas of Armenia'; it is the only one within the boundaries of today's Republic of Armenia

Human intervention dramatically changed the Lake Sevan ecosystem

A Nearby summer home of the President of Armenia, viewable from very close to Sevanavank

The canteen of the Guesthouse of the Armenian Writer's Union

The canteen

Gevorg Kotchar realized in the

60s the famous guesthouse of the Armenian

Writers' Union. After artificial

draining of the Lake Sevan,

which started in the Stalin era, the water level fell about 20

metres, and the island

transformed into a peninsula. At the southern shore of this

newly created peninsula,

Gevorg Kotchar built the

guesthouse of the Armenian Writers' Union

The canteen of the Guesthouse of the Armenian Writer's Union

Armenian alphabet

On a clear and sunny day, the water is often a deep turquoise color. Maxim Gorky once said about the waters that they were like a piece of the sky that had descended to the earth among the mountains.

The shores are white sand and most beaches are uncrowded

An Armenian princess named Tamar lived on Akhtamar Island in Lake Van (in Historic Armenia). She was in love with a commoner. This boy would swim from the mainland to the island each night, his way lit by a light she lit for him. One day her father found out about this and was very upset. He went to her as she held the light, waiting for her love.

He smashed her light, leaving the boy in the middle of the lake without an idea of which direction to swim. They say his dying cries of Akh, Tamar… (Oh, Tamar) can be heard to this day at night. This is where the name of the island comes from.

The Turks have occupied Lake Van and Akhtamar island, but Armenians have built a statue in honor of this legend on the shores of Lake Sevan instead. It is along the highway, north of Sevanavank

Sevanavank monastic complex

The long staircase takes visitors up to the top of the peninsula

Stairway connects parking and shopping area with Sevanavank monastery located on a small hill-peninsula above Sevan Lake

A khachkar, also known as an Armenian

cross-stone is a carved,

memorial stele bearing a cross, and often with

additional motifs such

as rosettes, interlaces, and

botanical motifs 

Khachkars are characteristic

of Medieval Christian Armenian art.

Since 2010, khachkars, their symbolism and

craftsmanship are inscribed in

the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural

Heritage

While climbing the steps leading to the top of the peninsula, one reaches first the Arakelots (Apostles) and then Astvatsatsin church (Mother of God). Both are cross-like constructions dating back to 874

Reconstruction and restoration efforts took place from 1956 to 1957

Sevanavank monastic complex Surp Arakelots, (the Holy Apostles) church and, less visible to the right, Surp Astvatsatsin, (the Holy mother of God ) church

Sevanavank monastic complex Surp Astvatsatsin, (the Holy mother of God ) church, and Surp Arakelots, (the Holy Apostles) church

View of peninsula

According to an inscription in one of the churches, the monastery of Sevanavank was founded in 874

byPrincess Mariam, the

daughter of Ashot I (who became a

king a decade later).

At the time, Armenia was still struggling to free

itself from Arab rule.The monastery was strict as it

was mainly intended for those

monks from Etchmiadzin who had sinned

The peninsula was a religious center even centuries before the construction of Sevanavank Monastery churches (874 AD). Surb Harutyun Church was built by Gregory the Illuminator, the founder of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is said that the church was ruined during an earthquake in 995. Even before Armenia’s adoption of Christianity as a state religion there was a small pagan temple on the island of Sevan

Sevanavank monastic complex Surp Astvatsatsin, (the Holy mother of God ) church, and Surp Arakelots, (the Holy Apostles) church

The larger St. Arakelots (the Holy Apostles) church was built at the same time as St. Astvatsatsin. It has an elongated western end creating a square hall

An inscription on the south wall of the church says it was founded in 874 by Princess Mariam, the wife

of Prince Vasak of Gabur and the daughter of the Bagratuni King

Ashot I.

Sevanavank has a large collection of khachkars (stone crosses) and khachkar fragments, with outstanding

examples from each period of the monastery's history

Among the more interesting are those made from soft green stone (andesite or limestone), quarried from the Sevan area

The wooden door of this church is

particularly worth attention, as it dates

back to the 15th century and its

carvings prove the brilliance of medieval

Armenian art

Sevanavank monastic complex Surp Arakelots, (the Holy Apostles) church door inside

Sevanavank monastic complex Altar of S. Astvatsatsin

The wooden altar screen, partly carved and partly painted, an 1824 gift from the Monastery of St. Thaddeus, south of Maku, present day Iran

Khachkar 13th century inside big church Astvatsatsin

It’s important to mention that there is a special dress-code. Although the monastery is situated very close to holiday resorts, it’s forbidden to enter the church dressed in swimsuit, very short skirt, and so on. Your legs and shoulders must be covered appropriately

Khachkar 13th century inside S.Astvatsatsin

Khachkar 13th century(detail)

Sevanavank is one of the most popular places of interest in Armenia. It’s a very unique complex that attracts thousands of tourists annually and is on the list of must-see attractions of Armenia

A curtain in a church signifies that it is a functioning church

Sound: Djivan Gasparyan – They took my love away

Text: Internet

Pictures: Internet

Sanda Foişoreanu

Copyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu

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