Surb Hovhannes Church of Byurakan

The church of Byurakan

Surb Hovhannes — the Church of Saint John — stands in the village of Byurakan on the southern slopes of Mount Aragats, and is a listed cultural heritage monument of Armenia. Built of the region's volcanic tuf, it carries the calm, grounded character of an old highland church, woven into the everyday life of the village around it.

On the slopes of Aragats

Byurakan is best known today for its observatory high on the mountain, but the village also keeps older stones like this one. The church makes an easy and worthwhile stop on the way up Aragats, set against the sweeping views the slopes open toward the plain below.

An unhurried highland church on the road up Aragats — modest, weathered and quietly welcoming.

The road climbs the slopes of Aragats, where conditions can change fast with altitude, so check the forecast for the nearest point before you go — a clear day rewards you with both the church and the long views around it.