What is "hnevank"

Hnevank (; meaning "Old Monastery") is a 7th-12th century Armenian Apostolic Church monastery, located near the village of Kurtan in the Lori Province of Armenia. The monastery is situated on a hill within a gorge, near where the Dzoraget and Gargar rivers join.

The monastery was entirely rebuilt by lord Smbat of the House of Orbelian, a branch of the Liparitids who were expelled to Armenia in the late 12th century from Georgia. Liparitids were themselves a branch of the Mamikonians. Smbat was the ancestor of the Armenian princes of Syunik. A Georgian inscription around the drum attests his name.

The monastery has a gavit and various service buildings scattered around the site.

The government of Armenia has recently begun renovating the monastery. The collapsed dome of the main church has been restored entirely.