Continuing on  toward   Jermuk,   in the gorge of the Arpa river (impressive caves) , below the village of Gndevaz, (Astvatsatsin church of 1686, water channel of 11^th c.), is Gndevank. This monastery was founded in 936 by Princess Sofia of Syunik, who reportedly boasted that “Vayots Dzor  was  a  jewelless   ring, but  I  built  this  as  the  jewel   on   it”.

   The  village   of   Kechut   has   three ruined churches of the 7^th, 13^th and 17^th c.   Khachkars   from   there  were used to build a later bridge over the Arpa.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Inside the S. Stepanos church is a wall-painting of Mary and the Christ child, thought to be contemporary with the church. The gavit dates to 999, but the monastery circuit wall is late medieval. Gndevank can be reached by taking the narrow road on the W side of the river, or by taking the main Jermuk road, turning left till the far lower edge of Gndevaz, and walking about 2 km (?).