Drazark monastery

Drazark monastery (Armenian: Դրազարկ վանք) is a destroyed monastic complex of Armenian Apostolic Church in Adana province of modern Turkey, which lies about 40 km. northwest of the city of Sis – historical capital of Cilician Armenia, at one of inaccessible slopes of Cilician Taurus range (middle part of the Taurus Mountains).

Drazark in Armenian language directly means knock on the door. But beside Drazark the monastery was known by some other names:

T'razark (Armenian: Թրազարկ, lit. 'Sword's strike')

P'osivank (Armenian: Փոսիվանք, lit. 'monastery in the hallow')

Avag-vank (Armenian: Ավագ վանք, lit. 'main monastery')

Summarizing recollections on Drazark frequently met numerous words like "big, inhabited by angels, notable, extremely outstanding" and similar characterizations which allows to suggest, this was a great monastic complex. Drazark consisted of 5 churches. Main church standing in the middle was called Surb Astvatzatzin (Armenian: Սուրբ Աստվածածին) that in Armenian language means Holy Mother of God. Another 4 churches were attached to it by forming a cross:

Surb Nshan (Armenian: Սուրբ Նշան, lit. 'Holy Portent')