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Marmashen

The Marmashen monastery is located 2km. to the north-west of the Marmashen village, on the River Akhuryan's shore, divided by two monumental groups known as Big and Small. The main church - Catoghike, was constricted according to inscriptions of 988-1029 by the ruler Vahram Pahlavuni. The main church of the Marmashen monastery is of the vaulted hall construction type. The Catoghike church is the best example of the Armenian architecture created during the Bagratuni period.

Attached to the Catoghike church is a second church built approximately at the same time. The third church (11th century) is situated south of the Catoghike church, having been constructed with a centralized vault. There is an entry attached from the west to the Catoghike church characterising that kind of construction with four columns and a centralized vault. This entry served as a mausoleum, and it was where Vahram Pahlavuni was buried, and whose tomb-stone was created in the 19th century.

Marmashen was an important religious and cultural center.