A stone church in Noraduz, the Gegharkunik village renowned for its khachkar fields. Dedicated to the saint who brought Armenia its faith.
Faith named for its founder-saint
The Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator stands in Noraduz, a Gegharkunik village famous across Armenia for its vast field of khachkars, the carved cross-stones gathered in its old cemetery. The church is a sturdy, unadorned work of Armenian sacred architecture, raised in cut stone to gather a community and to last.
An off-roader, driver-guides, and access to places an ordinary car can’t reach: Satani Kar (the natural bridge), the Vorotan gorge, hot springs.
It carries the name of St. Gregory the Illuminator, the figure who brought Christianity to Armenia, which makes its setting especially fitting: a village where stone has been shaped into devotion for generations. Plain on the outside, calm within, it is the quiet counterpart to Noraduz's celebrated carvings.
Here the church and the cross-stones tell one story, of a people who wrote their faith into stone and never stopped.
A two-day ascent of Armenia’s highest mountain. Lake Kari at 3,200 m, an overnight at the station, a morning push to the southern (4,094 m) or western peak. For the well-prepared only.
Part of the Noraduz walk
Most visitors come for Noraduz's renowned khachkar cemetery, and this church belongs naturally to the same unhurried route. Close to Lake Sevan, the village rewards a slow visit and an attentive eye.
Old Khndzoresk — a two-hundred-year-old cave town in a gypsum gorge. A suspension bridge over the chasm, a descent to the cave dwellings, the Surb Tadevos church.
- An authentic village church in a heritage-rich setting
- Steps from one of Armenia's greatest khachkar fields
- Easy to combine with a Lake Sevan day
Before you go, check the forecast for the nearest point in Gegharkunik. Weather near Sevan shifts fast and the open ground offers little shelter, so a quick look ahead keeps the trip smooth.
From Yerevan to this place a car or transfer is the most convenient — public transport reaches most Armenian places rarely. Plan a day for the road plus at least half a day for the place itself.
Tours through this place
Ready routes in which this place is a key stop
Stay nearby
Where to stay if you're going for a day or more
Glamping on the shore of Sevan
Tents with frame beds right by the water. 30 m to the lake, morning coffee with a view of the Sevanavank peninsula, kayaks for rent.
KIA Sportage 2022
A versatile crossover, similar to the Toyota RAV4. Enough clearance for most Armenian gravel roads.
- Full tank
- CASCO
- CarPlay
Yerevan → Meghri (with an overnight en route)
The road to the Iranian border via the Kajaran switchbacks. Done over two days with a night in Goris. For experienced drivers only.