Saint Stepanos Monastery

Saint Stepanos Monastery
Սուրբ Ստեփանոս վանք
Religion
AffiliationArmenian Apostolic Church
Location
LocationEast Azarbaijan, Iran
Saint Stepanos Monastery is located in Iran
Saint Stepanos Monastery
Shown within Iran
Geographic coordinates38°58′45.75″N 45°28′23.71″E / 38.9793750°N 45.4732528°E / 38.9793750; 45.4732528
Architecture
StyleArmenian architecture
Official name: Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran
TypeCultural
Criteriaii, iii, vi
Designated2008 (32nd session)
Reference no.1262
RegionWestern Asia

The Saint Stepanos Monastery (Armenian: Սուրբ Ստեփանոս վանք, Surb Stepanos Vank; Persian: کلیسای سن استپانوس, Kelisā-ye San Estepānus), also known in Armenian as Maghardavank (Մաղարդավանք), is an Armenian monastery located about 15 km northwest of the city of Julfa in the province of East Azarbaijan, northwestern Iran. It is situated in a deep canyon along the Araxes, on the Iranian side of the border between Iran and Nakhchivan. It was originally built in the ninth century, and was rebuilt during the Safavid era, after being damaged through wars and earthquakes.

It is part of the Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran, which are inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.