Jeep Tour: Dzoraget river gorge – Hnevank monastery – Arevatsag Gorge – Srbanes (Ardvi) monastery – Odzi Port – Odzun

The Dzoraget Gorge is one of the most picturesque places in Armenia, located in Lori Province. The canyon is 100–300 metres deep.

Its special beauty comes from its location at the meeting point of the Dzoraget and Pambak rivers. The Dzoraget River is one of the main tributaries of the Debed River, stretching 67 km, while the Pambak River runs for 84 km.

Hnevank Monastery is located on the right bank of the Dzoraget River. The partially ruined complex once included three churches, a gavit (narthex), residential, economic, and auxiliary buildings.

The main church (7th century) is rectangular on the exterior and cruciform with a dome on the interior. According to the Georgian inscription on the dome, the church was renovated in 1154 by Smbat, the son of Ivane Orbelyan, the amirspasalar.

Of the gavit located on the western side, only parts of the foundation walls have survived.

Arevatsag Gorge is a picturesque valley with wide mountain plains, the dazzling blue of the Dzoraget River, and its crown jewel – Mount Tsitskar. The gorge is famous for its stunning sunrises, which is reflected in its name: Arevatsag means “sunrise” in Armenian.

Mount Tsitskar rises proudly above the river and the gentle hills, which are covered with greenery and colourful mountain flowers.

Srbanes Monastery, built between the 8th and 17th centuries, is also known as the Church of St Hovhannes or Hovhan Odznetsi. It is located in Lori Province, on the north-western edge of the village of Ardvi. The complex includes two small churches and a bell tower. On the monastery grounds, you can also see a square monument, khachkars (cross-stones), and the ruins of residential and service buildings.

Srbanes is famous as the burial place of the 34th Armenian Catholicos, Hovhannes Odznetsi (717–728). He was a leading theologian, legal scholar, thinker, and reformer. After his death, he was canonised by the Armenian Church as Saint Hovhannes Imastaser (the Wise). He wrote many sharakans (Armenian spiritual hymns still sung in churches today) and several theological works. His most important work is the Book of Canons, the first collection of church law in Armenia.

The monastery is also famous in world cinema, as the legendary film “The Colour of Pomegranates” by the renowned Armenian director Sergei Parajanov was filmed here.

According to legend, a huge serpent once terrorised this area. Only Saint Hovhannes was able to stop its deadly attacks – with the sign of the cross, he turned the monster to stone. From the serpent’s navel, a spring of pure water began to flow. Even today, locals and visitors love to collect water from Odzi Port.

Odzun Monastery is one of the oldest in Armenia, a magnificent 6th-century monument located in Lori Province. There are no historical records confirming the exact date of the church’s construction. However, based on its overall design, interior decoration, and certain architectural details, the monastery is believed to date from the mid-6th century.

The church has been rebuilt and restored several times. In the 19th century, two bell towers were added to the eastern part of the building. The most recent restoration, carried out with the help of specialists from the Polytechnic of Milan (Italy), was completed in 2014.

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