The story of Saint Karapet Monastery, Muş

The relics of John the Baptist are believed to have been hidden in these hills. Tradition says Gregory the Illuminator brought them to the old Taron region, about 30 km northwest of Muş, at the start of the 4th century, and the Surp Garabet Monastery grew up around them; its name means "Holy Forerunner" and points to John himself.

Later it became the refuge of the Mamikonians, who proclaimed themselves the holy warriors of John the Baptist, and over the following centuries it was enlarged and renewed many times. This was the religious heart of Taron and a major pilgrimage site, regarded as the most important Armenian monastery after Etchmiadzin, and from the 12th to the 20th century it was the seat of Taron's bishops.

During the Armenian genocide of 1915 it was looted, burned and then abandoned. Listen for its other names: Glakavank, after Zenob Glak, and Innakniyan vank, the "Monastery of the Nine Springs."