The Church of Saint John (Surp Hovanes), also known as Mastara Church, in
Mastara,
Armenia dates from the 5th century. It features a variation of the cruciform plan and central cupola'd church. In accordance with its square plan, the four projecting apses, inward-facing circular and outward facing polygonal, offer the requisite supports to hold up the imposing polygonal cupola. The complex church designs are like those in Avan and
St. Hripsime Church, Echmiadzin.
The works of medieval architecture in Mastara include, among others, numerous
khachkars.
Gallery
View from the northwest
View from the southeast
Detail of inscriptions above the western entrance.