Mount Ararat with the historic Khor Virap monastery visible at center-left

Architecture & Monasteries

The Akhtala frescoes include a Persian-bearded figure that locals say was painted to deceive invading armies into believing the monastery was Persian, thus sparing it from destruction during raids.

Source

Theย Akhtalaย frescoesย includeย aย Persian-beardedย figureย thatย localsย sayย wasย paintedย toย deceiveย invadingย armiesย intoย believingย theย monasteryย wasย Persian,ย thusย sparingย itย fromย destructionย duringย raids.ย 

1316Architecture & Monasteries