Marmashen Monastery is located in Shirak Province, on the left bank of the Akhuryan River, about 10 kilometers from Gyumri. The complex is built on the edge of the river gorge, where the natural terrace creates a magnificent backdrop for the stone structures. Construction of the monastery began in 988, during the reign of Bagratid King Gagik I, and the complex took shape in the 10th–11th centuries. The main church, Saint Stephen the Protomartyr, was built in the characteristic style of the Bagratid architectural period, with a pronounced cruciform‑domed plan. The complex includes three churches, a mausoleum, and traces of ruined adjacent buildings. The carved stones, the forms of the arches, and the details of the altar and apse testify to the mature style of Bagratid architecture. Marmashen is often part of the Gyumri–Harich–Marmashen route and is recognized as one of the most beautiful monasteries of Shirak. The view of the Akhuryan gorge, especially during harvest season, is said to be unmatched anywhere else in Armenia.