The monastery of Marmashen is located in the Marz (region) of Shiraque, in the southwestern side of the village of Vahramaberd, on the left bank of the river Akhuryan, in 140 km to the north of Yerevan. The name Marmashen is connected with the word marble (in Armenian. Marmar): it is true, the monastery is not made of marble, but it had such a beautiful structure and exquisite decoration that was given this name by contemporaries. Marmashen Monastery is one of the masterpieces of the famous architect Tiridates. The monastery consists of the Main church Katoghike and the small churches. The Main church was built by the Armenian Sparapet (Commander of the Armenian Army) Vahram Pahlavuni in 1029. During the invasion of the Seljuk, the monastery was badly damaged, but in 1225 the grandsons of Vahram Pahlavuni, the Archbishop Grigor (Gregory) and his brother the count Aplgharib restored the Katoghike. The walls of the Main church are covered with pure hewn reddish tuffa from both outside and inside the main parts are built of basalt. There are tilled niches in the eastern altar. In the facades are tilled slots of triangular shape, which create light and shade. Katoghike of Marmashen Monastery is one of the best buildings of the Armenian architecture of Bagratouni’s era. The second church of the monastery is located to the north of the Katoghike, almost adjacent to it, and was probably built at the same time with it. By its structure and architectural details and decoration, it is a smaller copy of the Katoghike. The third church (11th century) is located to the south of Katoghike. It is a central dome construction with the vestries in four corners. It served as a cemetery: Vahram Pahlavuni is buried there. The current gravestone was placed in the 19th century. In 1954-56 during the excavations the fourth church was discovered there, which is round on the outside and has four apses and four small vestries inside. There is a cemetery in the eastern and southern sides of the complex.