UNDER CONSTRUCTION

   The   westerly   of    the   two   roads leading SW from Sisian takes one to Brnakot,  which supposedly boasts three churches: S. Grigor of 1704 (right of the road beyond the war memorial), S. Astvatsatsin, and a third nameless.  Tacked   onto  the  S

   The   second   SW   road   from   Sisian leads past the Tolors reservoir to the village of Ashotavan. There is a church of 1903 in the village.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

side of the 1704 basilica of S. Grigor is a gavit/cupola built in 1848 to house the tombs of the family of Melik Tangi, “hazarapet” (Armenian equivalent of his Turkish/Persian title Min-bashi, “lord of a thousand”) and major notable in Syunik till the last years of Russian imperial rule). The church is locked, and the donkey guarding it bites. Residents of Sisian say that Brnakot is famous for its crazy people. From the E edge of Brnakot a dirt road leads to Ashotavan. Another road SW to Salvard seems to disappear on the mountain slope.