Dadivank Monastery

Dadivank is a medieval monastic complex located in the mountainous area of the Kalbajar District. It is notable for its stone churches and a concentration of medieval Armenian carved cross-stones and inscriptions.

The site consists of multiple stone-built churches and ancillary monastic structures set on a hillside, with exterior khachkars and carved inscriptions among the primary artistic features. The main church and surrounding chapels represent medieval ecclesiastical architecture and ornamentation.

Dadivank dates from the medieval period, with construction and decoration concentrated between roughly the 9th and 13th centuries, and it served as a religious and cultural centre for the local Christian community. The complex has been restored and conserved at various times to preserve its masonry and carved stonework.

The monastery stands in a mountainous valley in the Kalbajar District, positioned above surrounding valleys and reached by rural roads from nearby settlements.

• Dating and artifacts: The monastery complex contains medieval churches and numerous carved khachkars and inscriptions dating primarily to the 9th-13th centuries.

What to See #

• Main church: The main church of the monastic complex, a medieval stone building that forms the liturgical and architectural centre of the site.
• Chapels and khachkars: Surrounding chapels, exterior khachkars (carved cross-stones) and monastic buildings that together make up the complex's medieval fabric.