The monastery was, like Hovhannavank, built by Prince
Vache Vachutian. Not surprisingly the two monasteries have many
similarities, not least in their situation on the rim of the gorge and in
the stone used in their construction, although the architectural details are
quite different. The oldest part of Saghmosavank ('Monastery of Psalms') is
the Zion Church of 1215 with its round tambour and conical cupola. Inside
there are frescoes on the arch over the apse and carved angels over the
sanctuary. The smaller Mother of God Church to the south was built in 1235
and was followed by the large gavit which has an impressive entrance doorway
similar to those found at the entrance to mosques. Whether this simply
reflects the previous experience of the architect or had some other
significance is not clear. The layout of the existing buildings required the
library to be L-shaped when it was added in 1255; there is a fresco of St
Gregory over the door to the Mother of God Church. Unfortunately this door
is usually locked as the church is, according to the caretaker, 'only a
store room'. As at Hovhannavank, a fortified wall surrounds the complex: the
local goats enjoy standing on top of this one to keep an eye on the
tourists.
