Hidden Sanctuary of St. Vartan Draws Pilgrims to Remote Village
Surprise on Sevan Highway: The sanctuary of St. Vartan in Vartenis
A journalist's road trip around Lake Sevan's 200-kilometer perimeter led to the discovery of a little-known pilgrimage site in Vartenis, a southeastern village near the Azerbaijani border. The Sanctuary of St. Vartan, centered on a natural spring, is traditionally associated with fifth-century Armenian liberation wars. Local legend holds that General Vartan Mamigonian stopped at the site while traveling to the Battle of Avarayr. The sanctuary sits on the Vartenis-Ayrk road, where water flows from beneath a rock into a stream. Signage at the location acknowledges that definitive historical conclusions remain difficult, though preliminary research suggests the site's potential significance. The remote location, accessible through the welcoming village of Vartenis, offers visitors a spiritual destination amid Armenia's most scenic regions.
