Makaravank is an Armenian church complex of the 13^th century, located on the slope Paytatap Mountain,3 km southwest of the village of Achajur in Tavush, Armenia. The Makaravank complex belongs to the monastery complex of Akhtamar, Bgheno-Noravank, Gandzasar by its originality, richness and variety of sculptures, it occupies an important place in Armenian architecture. There are four churches, a that serves the two largest of the churches, and other buildings which serve secondary roles. The monastery is surrounded with walls, its gate is decorated with columns. Passing through the gate in the circuit wall, the main church of 1205, built by Vardan, son of Prince Bazaz, is on the right. The main temple is domed hall. The diameter of the high dome is quite large, and the under-dome space predominates in the structure’s interior. The walls of altar daises, decorated with geometrical ornaments are of extraordinary interest. In Makaravank the profiled eight-pointed stars and octagons between them, arranged in 2 rows, are covered with varied and rich unique carving in the architecture of medieval Armenia. The exterior decoration of Makaravank’s main temple is more expressive. Over the central window of the southern façade there is a sun dial and below it a representation of a dove, the round windows vary in their shapes and ornamentation. The entrance portals are rectangular, with a semi-circular inner niche. The architecture is harmoniously proportionate to the dome and to the overall voluman of the church. Astvatsatsin Church (Holy Mother of God): The church was built in 1198 by Hovhannes I, in memory of his parents and brothers. It’s a cross-shaped building made of heum stones on the outside. The church is unique in its layout and dimensions, it’s partly reminiscent of Ani’s Apughamrents church. Chapel. The small half-ruined chapel is located north of the Astvatsatsin church, it’s a vaulted building with small, multicolored stones, built at the same time as the other monuments. Makaravank legends. According to one legend, a man named Makar build this church with his only son. The son was a mason, he carved the stones and the father placed them. The walls of the church was getting higher and higher. Makar was so dedicated to his work that he stopped coming down of the walls and spent the nights on the church. But one day Makar noticed that the stones have become somehow different, the sizes and the carvings were much poorer. He understood that his son was ill. The villagers told him that his son was ill. Makar insisted that the villagers brought his son to him, regardless of the condition he was in. No one fulfilled his request, and Makar understood that his son had already passed away. He threw himself down the walls and died. The church renamed incomplete, and villagers buried Makar under the walls of the church he and his son had built. Another legend told us that the monastery was once called Agravavank (Monastery of Crows).  According to this legend, one day when the workers of the monastery were having lunch, a snake sneaked into the soup. A that minute the crow was flying above them, it saw the snake and tried to warn the men about the snake. The man didn’t understand that took place. Only after cleaning the pans the man find the snake. They called the monastery after the bird who saved their lives and sacrificed its own.