Kecharis Monastery Complex is situated in the resort town of Tsaghkadzor, in the Kotayk Region, about a 30-minute drive from Yerevan.
This is a medieval monastery complex dating back to the 11th–13th centuries.
The name Kecharis comes from the Armenian word “kech”, meaning birch or forest, and the suffix “-aris”, which indicates a place name in Armenian. So the name basically means “a place surrounded by forest.” This makes perfect sense, considering that Kecharis Monastery is surrounded by thick woods and sits right next to the slopes of Mount Teghenis, in a region that was historically forested.
The complex consists of four main churches and a belfry (gavit). The oldest structure is Saint Grigor Church; next to it are the churches of Saint Nshan, Saint Katoghike, and Saint Harutyun.
The main temple, Saint Grigor Church, was the monastery’s first structure, built by Grigor Magistros Pahlavuni — an Armenian prince, linguist, and scholar. Later additions to the complex were built by the noble Proshyan family.
Many of the buildings have survived earthquakes, time, and even periods of neglect, but they were restored between 1998 and 2000. Walking through the monastery grounds, you’ll see beautiful khachkars (Armenian cross-stones), old tombstones, and a quiet yard surrounded by pine trees.
The interior of the monastery is modest and peaceful. There are only a few frescoes depicting religious scenes, and a beautiful altar adorned with images of the apostles.
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