Odzun Monastery is situated in Lori Province, in the north of Armenia, about a 3-hour drive from Yerevan. The construction of the church began in the 6th century and was later reconstructed by Hovhannes III Odzunetsi, who was the Armenian Catholicos between 717 and 728.
The name Odzun likely comes from the Armenian verb otsel (օծել), which means “to ordain.” A legend says that in the first century AD, Thomas the Apostle ordained local clergy here and buried Christ’s swaddling clothes at this site, above which the main church was later constructed.
Odzun is one of the rare surviving pink felsite cupola basilicas in Armenia. Elegant arches and tall columns support the massive dome, which has stood the test of time and history for centuries.
The walls and windows are engraved with reliefs — Christ holding the open Gospel, one hand raised in blessing, flanked by angels with palm leaves and intertwining serpents. These aren’t just symbols; they speak of resurrection, healing, judgment — all manually carved into stone.
Inside the church courtyard stands a pair of tall stone obelisks on a stepped platform — a funerary monument from the 6th century. They’re carved with biblical scenes and images that reflect Armenia’s earliest Christian identity. Legend has it that these stelae mark the grave of Hovhannes Odzunetsi, the very Catholicos who ordered the church
In medieval times, Odzun wasn’t just a place of prayer — it was a significant educational center. A school, a library, and debates were held under the arches. Odzun was a home to many theologians and pilgrims. The territory is rich with cross-stones (khachkars) dating back to the 7th–12th centuries. They were either gifts to the church or founding stones that tell the story of the church’s history.
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