Hovhannavank, also Yovhannavank‘ (Armenian: Հովհաննավանք) is a medieval monastery located in the village of Ohanavan in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia.

The oldest part of the monastery is the single nave basilica of St. Karapet (i.e. Holy Forerunner, John the Baptist) that was founded at the beginning of the fourth century by St. Gregory the Enlightener, who baptized Armenia into the world's first Christian nation.

The wooden roof of the early church was replaced in 554 AD with a thatch cover, and the basilica itself underwent profound renovation between 1652 and 1734.

Between the 12th and 17th centuries, Hovhannavank was known as an important educational and theological center of Eastern Armenia that had a scriptorium where manuscripts were written and illuminated.

His contribution is recorded by an inscription:[3] In the year 699 (ie 1250 CE) … I, K‘urd, son of Vač‘ē, and my spouse Xorišah... put my treasure at the disposal of Armenian churches and for the sake of love of God confirmed again our affiliation to (the Monastery of ) the Holy Precursor and established this great house of glory, bringing it to completion with mighty efforts.

And the servants of the saints established that in a year for 20 days there shall be 10 masses (celebrated) for me, K‘urd, and 10 for Xorišah, as long as we live, 10 for Vač‘ē and 10 for Mamk‘an.

One large engraved text high on the northern wall of one of the monastery's auxiliary structures was added by Vache Vachutian but written in the words of his suzerains, the Zakarids.

[4] It reads: "...By the grace of merciful God, during the reign of Queen Tamar, daughter of the great Gevorg, in the year 642 (1200 AD) of the race of Torgom, we—brothers Zakaria and Ivane — sons of Sargis the Great, son of Avag Zakarian, when the light of God’s grace rose and entered Armenia and raised us from weakness in the battle against the enemies of Christ and destroyed their power and quenched their violence, with the country of Ararat delivered from the heavy yoke of their servitude, wished to make offering and gave the tribute of the grace to the Holy Forerunner of Hovhannavank ...[4]Another key inscription was left by Konstandin I, Katholicos of Armenia.

Hovhannavank's Cathedral belongs to the category of “Gandzasar-style” ecclesiastical edifices that were built approximately at the same time in different parts of Armenia, and were endowed with similar compositional and decorative characteristics (another example—Cathedral of the Haritchavank Monastery).

[5] Those include umbrella-shaped dome, cruciform floor plan, narthex (often with stalactite-ornamented ceiling), and high-relief of a large cross on one of church's walls.

The prospering period of Hovhannavank is connected with the Vachutian princely house; during their reign St. Garabed Kathoghike Church, the courtyard, the other buildings of the monastery were built, it was enclosed, the congregation was expanded, a school and a library were established.

A unique iconography of the evangelical parable of the "Wise and Foolish Virgins" is carved on the back of the façade completely decorated with plants, where the newly married young congregants are represented instead of girls.

Cloisters adjacent to the enclosure, wells and wine vats on the north side of the basilica church were revealed due to the excavations in 2015.

Findings Fragments of cross-stones and architectural details, pottery Significance It was the center of the episcopal diocese of Amberd province in the High and Late Middle Ages.