A previously unknown early-medieval church has been uncovered within the Kecharis Monastic Complex in Tsaghkadzor, Kotayk Province, Armenia.
The discovery emerged during restoration work initiated by the Vardanyan and Mkrtchyan families and during the archaeological excavations carried out alongside those efforts. Although the main complex dates to the 11th to 13th centuries, the newly identified structure appears to belong to an earlier period.
Excavations have revealed the church’s foundational walls together with several adjoining constructions. These findings expand current understanding of the monastic compound’s original scale, architectural phases, and historical development.
More than one hundred tombstones have also been uncovered. A number of them bear inscriptions, providing valuable material for studying the epigraphy, social order, and cultural environment of the era. According to the research team, the discoveries offer rare and significant evidence for reconstructing the early history of the Kecharis complex and the spiritual life of the region.
Work at the site is ongoing, and specialists consider the likelihood of further important discoveries to be high.
