Mastara

Mastara Մաստարա
Street in the village of Mastara.
Mastara Մաստարա
Coordinates: 40°26′53″N 43°52′54″E / 40.44806°N 43.88167°E / 40.44806; 43.88167Coordinates: 40°26′53″N 43°52′54″E / 40.44806°N 43.88167°E / 40.44806; 43.88167
Country	Armenia
Marz (Province)	Aragatsotn
Area
• Total	2.42 km2 (0.93 sq mi)
Elevation	1,745 m (5,725 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	2,571
• Density	1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
Time zone	GMT+4 (UTC+4)
Postal code	0511

Mastara (Armenian: Մաստարա) is a village in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. The 5th-century Armenian Church of S. Hovhannes is situated in the northeastern half of the village, while the church of S. Stepanos Nakhava sits on a hilltop to the north. There is also the small medieval Tukh Manuk Church in the village to the southeast.

The name Mastara is thought to be derived from the words mas, meaning "a piece", and tara, "I buried/took". This comes from the popular legend that Gregory the Illuminator brought back relics of John the Baptist from Caesaria, a fragment of which he enshrined beneath the Church of S. Hovhannes.

S. Hovhannes Church

S. Hovhannes Church

S. Stepanos Nakhavka Church