Hermit’s Chapel (Chgnavori Matur)

The Hermit’s Chapel is a mysterious rock-cut religious structure located about 2.5 km northeast of Rind village in the Vayots Dzor region. It is carved into a solitary rock outcrop situated 200 meters southeast of the “Spitak Kar” (White Rock)—a unique geological rock remnant. Once serving as a church for the surrounding settlement, the chapel stands today as a silent witness to medieval spiritual life.

Architectural Description

The chapel has a western entrance about 1.5 meters high. Inside, the eastern part features a semi-circular apse with a small altar, while a baptismal font is preserved on the northern wall. To the south of the entrance, two beautiful cross-reliefs (khachkars) are carved directly onto the surface of the rock.

Historical Overview

In 1949, researcher H. Yeghiazaryan studied the site and noted that the cross carved above the altar stone is characteristic of the 13th-14th centuries. His findings suggest that the chapel originally had an adjacent hall, the foundations of which are still visible in front of the entrance. It is believed that this hall was destroyed when a portion of the rock cliff detached and collapsed.