Hovhanavank Monastery (Monastery of San Juan) is in the village of Ohanavan, about 6 km north of Ashtarak, on the right bank of the river Kazakh which forms a picturesque ravine here. Without doubt this is one of Armenia's most beautiful monasteries built in the twelfth century. The oldest building of the complex is the basilica of San Gregorio erected in the V century, rebuilt in 573 and renovated several times. On the north of the basilica are the ruins of the church of the early Christians of the early fourth century probably built at the site of a pagan temple.
