Hayravank Monastery, also known as Mardaghavneats, was founded in the IX‒XIII centuries. It is situated near Hayravank village at the shore of Lake Sevan. According to a legend, in 1381, during the invasion of Tamburlaine, the priest of the monastery Hovhan turned the captives into pigeons and let them free. Hence the name “Mardaghavneats” (“mard” means “person” and “aghavni” – “pigeon”). The territory of the monastery has been a settlement from the pre-Christian times. During the excavations, a lot of artifacts such as jewelry, tools, weapons of Bronze and Iron ages were found there. Nowadays, the monastery is fully reconstructed.
