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Karmravor church (Ashtarak)

The church is located on the northeast side of the town of Ashtarak. The Church of Karmravor St. Astvatsatsin is an unblemished jewel of the Armenian architecture of VII c. The church is unique with its tiled roof. Irrespective of its small dimensions, it dominates in the panorama of the old settlement. There is an opinion that there was a pagan temple dedicated to Anahit or Astghik in the place of Karmravor.

Both on the outside and inside, Karmravor is a cruciform, domed church whose eastern wing ends with a hoof-shaped altar. The octagonal drum of the dome is crowned with a tailed curvilinear broach and edged with an ornamented pediment. The cornices and window-edged are sculpted. The church makes an impression of a perfect sculpture and a monolithic statue. It is built with hewn brownish red tufa and is surrounded with an irregularly edged wall. Karmravor has repeatedly been renovated without any change whatsoever of forms and proportions.

Behind the roof and the green of orchards of the town you may discern the pointed dome of St. Marineh Church looking like a half-open umbrella.