The monastery is sometimes called Mariamashen, in honor of Princess Mariam, who initiated the construction of two churches (St. Astavtsatsin and St. Arakelots). Sevanavank has a large collection of khachkars and their fragments, many of which are displayed right at the entrance to the church. The most interesting of them are those made of green stone (limestone or andesite) mined in the Sevan region. Sevanavank is located about 1 hour from Yerevan in a northeasterly direction. You need to go along the M-4 highway to the peninsula, and then follow the signs to the car park, and climb the steps to the complex.→