Sanahin Monastery was founded in the 10th century and is now one of the most completely preserved monastic complexes in Armenia. Together with the Haghpat Monastery, located almost 4 km to the east, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.
Sanahin means something like “older than others”. This should probably mean that Sanahin is a few years older than the Haghpat monastery, which is practically in sight. The main building of the monastery complex is the Church of the Redeemer, located in the center, with a cross-shaped floor plan. The Church of Our Lady adjoins the Church of the Redeemer to the north. It is the oldest building in the monastery and was built in 934 by Byzantine monks.