1.5 km north of the village, on a forested slope, stands the medieval monastery complex of Nor Varagavank. In honor of the Van complex, the village is called Varagavan. The monastery was originally called Anapat. The new Varagavank was named after the famous Varagavank of Vaspurakan, which was destroyed during the Mongol invasions. In 1213, the diligent leader of Varagavank, Luke, moved the relics kept in Varagavank to the Desert, including the piece of the Holy Cross brought by the Hripsime virgins. Since 2004, on the last Sunday of September every year, the relic from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is brought to Nor Varagavank with great solemnity and a Holy Liturgy is served. After the celebration, the relic is transferred to Etchmiadzin. There are khachkars near the monastery, the largest of which was built by Vardan in 1620. "According to the Apostolic calendar, we have four feasts of the cross a year. If three out of four are typical of other Christian churches, then the Varaga cross is typical only of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It was included in the calendar in the 7th century by Catholicos Nerses III of Tay, when the historic Varagavank was built on Mount Varaga''.