Surb Astvatsatsin Church is located on the hill in the center of Vanadzor, at the confluence of the Pambak and Tandzut rivers. It was built instead of the destroyed old church in 1831, about 10-15 meters north of it. The exact time of the construction of the old church is unknown. The composition of the size and ornaments of the tombstones in the courtyard of the church, the sculptures of several khachkars, and a comparative study of the decorative decoration allow concluding that the ancient church was built in the 13th century in the Zakaryanov district. During the construction of the new church, the stones of the old church were not enough, so yellow stones from Ani-Pemza, and the tuff from the quarry of Ghshlagh village or the nearby Spitak region, were used. There is a cemetery on the church territory, with tombstones of the 13-14 centuries. There are many khachkars around the church. To the right of the entrance to the courtyard, there is the family tomb of the noble family of Abovyans who were known for their charity. The priests of St. Astvatsatsin Church are also buried in this cemetery.
For PWD
There is one small stair up at the entrance and two stairs up right past the door. Plan your visit with a friend or helper and use a ramp.
