The town of Agarak (later renamed to Ekrek) was in the Surmalu uezd of the Erivan Governorate during the period of Russian rule of Armenia, until the government was dissolved in 1918.

In 1920, the Armenian archaeologist Ashkharbek Kalantar visited Agarak and documented the site in detail.

He recorded numerous medieval khachkars and a stele, depicting a figure holding a miniature basilica.

The monastery today is a completely ruined structure in the village of Ekrek in Iĝdir province of Turkey.

The domed church was named Sourb Stephanos, and had a tiled conical roof; it was probably built around 650 AD.