It was not easy to drive from Sanahin to Odzun. We arrived there late, so we decided to overnight on the cliff before the village. In the morning, we bought locally made bread, and then we visited St Astvatsatsin Church. It was built on the site where legend tells us St Thomas buried Christ’s swaddling clothes in the 1st century. The core of St Astvatsatsin dates from the 5th century but had considerable additions in the 8th century. The current building features many carved bas reliefs, a central dome, a handsome external pillared arcade on its southern side, and two 19th-century belfries. The unusual funerary monument next to it is thought to date from the 6th century.
Parking location – Odzun: 41.069547N 44.611326E