Sanahin Monastery

Sanahin Monastery is an Armenian monastery 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 neighbouring Haghpat Monastery. The two villages and their monasteries are similar in many ways, and lie in plain view of each other on a dissected plateau formation, separated by a deep "crack" formed by a small river flowing into the Debed river.
As with Haghpat, Sanahin is frequented by an increasing number of tourists, due to its recent inclusion on the itineraries of numerous Armenian tour agencies, the beauty of its monastery complex matching that of Haghpat's. The complex belongs to the Armenian Apostolic Church with numerous khachkars (stones with elaborate engravings representing a cross) and bishop gravesites scattered throughout it.
==Gallery==
Image:Sanahin-St_Gregory.jpg|St. Gregory chapel
Image:Sanahin-Library.jpg|The monastery's library
Image:Sanahin - Detail.jpg|Khatchkar detail at the monastery
Image:Sanahin monastery.jpg|Monastery interior
Image:Map of Haghpat.gif|Road map of the area around Haghpat and Sanahin monasteries
== External links ==
*Sanahin at Armenica.org
*Armeniapedia.org article on Sanahin
Category:World Heritage Sites in Armenia
Category:Christian monasteries in Armenia
Category:Christian monasteries established in the 10th century
Category:Oriental Orthodox congregations established in the 10th century
ca:Monestir de Sanahin