Ardvi Monastery (Surb Hovhannes)

The cloister of Ardvi

Above the village of Ardvi, in the green uplands of Lori, stands the monastery known as Surb Hovhannes, Saint John. A recognised cultural-heritage monument of Armenia, the complex gathers its chapels and walls around quiet courtyards, a self-contained little world of stone set against the open mountain sky.

A place of retreat

Ardvi has long been a place people climbed to for prayer and reflection, drawn by its seclusion and the calm that comes with height. The masonry is modest and honest, carved crosses, weathered surfaces, the patient geometry of Armenian builders. From its terraces the eye runs out over ridges and valleys that seem to go on without end.

A monastery built for stillness, with the whole of Lori for a view.

The road up gains height quickly, and in the Lori mountains clear mornings can turn to cloud by afternoon. Check the forecast for the nearest point before you travel, and choose a dry, bright day, both for the safest approach and for those long, open views.