The Arates Monastery in Armenia is built on top of a hill and overlooks the Arates tributary of the Yeghegis River. The monastery’s name came from the combination of “ari” (“come” in Armenian) and “tes” (“see” in Armenian).
It is likely that the site dates back to the 7th century CE, but the oldest inscription dates only to the 9th century CE. Most of the ruins date from the 10-13th centuries CE, and the khachkars and tombstones date from between the 10-17th centuries CE.
The group of half-ruined monuments consists of the St. Sion and the St. Astavatsatsin Churches, and two gavits.
