The Kusanats-anapat monastery in Avetaranots village, Artsakh, stands on a steep cape southwest of the village. Built in 1616, it served as a cultural and religious hub in ancient times, with traces of buildings dating back to the 5th-7th centuries.
Situated at the edge of the village atop a rising rock, the monastery overlooks a river with small waterfalls utilized for mills. Its west side is fortified with ancient gates, while the south side drops vertically to the river.
Connected to the village by an accessible road, the monastery's dedication and foundation year are uncertain. Legend attributes its construction to Aghvan king Vachagan III. Over time, it sheltered nuns until disturbed by Persian invasion in 1797.
According to Armenian tradition, during the invasion, a nun miraculously escaped a Persian soldier's attack by descending unharmed down the cliff. Another legend speaks of a sacrificial deer appearing near the monastery on Sundays.
