Vahe Aghamyan

Work to restore the bell-tower/mausoleum at the Kobayr Monastery in Armenia’s northern Lori Province is nearing completion.

The name Kobayr derives from the Armenian ayr and the Georgian kob, both meaning cave.

The Kobayr cloister belongs to a number of remarkable architectural complexes of medieval times, whose history is closely connected with the famous medieval Armenian feudal houses- Kyurikid's, Bagratid's and Armenian representatives of Georgian religion from Zakharid's kin (Shahnshah, Georgi, Mkhagrdze) and others.

According to the Georgian inscription on the southern wall, amirspasalar's son Shahnshah Mkhargredzeli and his wife Vanen built it in 1279.

It was one of the most important seats of written language and cultural centers of Armenia.

Work began in 2011.