CHURCH OF KIRANTS

From Azatamout, after 6 km of a bad road, you reach the very curious church of Kirants. The centrepiece of a ruined monastery complex, this large church built in the 13th century, also in poor condition, rises on a hill in a scrub. Brick was used here, a material little used in Armenia which gave its name to the church (kirants means "brick"). The use of glazed ceramics, with polychrome geometric patterns, adds to the originality of the building, which is more reminiscent of buildings in Persia.