Sanahin

Sanahin Monastery

Sanahin Monastery was founded in the 10th century in the Lori Province of Armenia. The name Sanahin literally translates from Armenian as "this one is older than that one", presumably representing a claim to having an older monastery than the neighboring Haghpat Monastery. Described as a “masterpiece of religious architecture and major center of learning in the Middle Ages”, Haghpat Monastery, together with Sanahin Monastery was chosen as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1996. The monasteries at Haghpat and Sanahin were chosen as UNESCO World Heritage Sites because: The two monastic complexes represent the highest flowering of Armenian religious architecture, whose unique style developed from a blending of elements of Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture and the traditional vernacular architecture of the Caucasian region.