Qarasun Mankants monastery is a 13th-century Armenian monastic complex located in the northwestern part of Dsegh village, Lori Province, on a steep slope on the right bank of the Debed Gorge, in an area known as “Takhter.”
The monastery has largely been damaged by natural disasters and the passage of time. Despite its partially ruined condition, medieval architectural elements, stone inscriptions, and khachkars (Armenian cross-stones) have been preserved. The complex can be reached via hiking trails from Dsegh village or from the direction of Dzoraget.
The History Behind the Name
The monastery’s name is associated with the Forty Holy Martyrs, who were martyred in the early 4th century. They came from various towns in Lesser Armenia and served as soldiers in the Roman imperial army stationed in the city of Sebastia.
By order of the Roman Emperor Licinius, an interrogation was organized to identify Christians among the soldiers. Remaining faithful to their beliefs, the forty soldiers were imprisoned and, on a cold winter night, thrown into a lake to freeze to death.
At dawn, halos appeared above the soldiers’ heads. It became clear that, through divine intervention, all forty had miraculously survived the freezing night. Enraged by this, their persecutors executed them, and the forty soldiers became martyrs for their Christian faith.
