Avan ( ) is a village in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia . The population of the village is mainly Armenian . It is home to the basilica-style church of Surb Astvatsatsin that sits along a street just off the main road beside the main cemetery . The large cemetery contains many khachkars from the 13th to 18th centuries . Adjacent to it across the street is a stepped plinth and broken funerary pillar monument of the 5th to 6th centuries . A worn inscription may be found along the landings of the second and third steps . There is a newly built church also by the name of Surb Astvatsatsin that sits near the main highway closer to the centre of the village , and is said to have been constructed upon old foundations . Some confusion may arise since two churches in the village are referred to as S. Astvatsatsin , but one of them may be the church of S. Hovhannes . They are said to have been first built in the 5th to 6th centuries , were reconstructed in the 13th century , and have sat in ruins until recently since the earthquake of 1679
earthquake of 1679
1679 Armenia earthquake
Avan, Armenia