 Akhtala ( Armenian : <unk> վանք ; Georgian : <unk> <unk> ) ; also known as <unk> ( Armenian : <unk> , meaning Coppermine Monastery ) is a 10th @-@ century fortified Armenian Apostolic Church monastery located in the town of Akhtala in the <unk> of Lori , 185 kilometers ( 115 mi ) north of Yerevan . The monastery is currently inactive . The fortress played a major role in protecting the north @-@ western regions of Armenia ( Gugark ) and is among the most well preserved of all in modern Armenia . The main church at the compound is famous for its highly artistic frescoes , which cover the inside walls , the partitions , and the bearings of the building . The modern name of Akhtala was first recorded in a royal decree of 1438 . The etymology of the name Akhtala is believed to be of Turkic origin , meaning white glade . The original Armenian name of the settlement where the monastery is built is <unk> , which means copper mine . 
