The church of Saint Stephen has a
cruciform centralised plan under a single
octagonal
drum with an octagonal-conical
dome above. The four arms of the church have
gable roofs. There is a single portal that leads into the building, and adjacent to the main entry of the church is another portal to a side
chapel. Decorative elements are mostly circular shield-type patterns on the exterior of the structure, and are limited to the bell style arches above some of the windows,
eaves, and
cornices. On the eastern exterior façade of the church are some inscriptions, as well as a design of a
low-relief cross pattée resting in the center of a circle located to the left of the lower window. This same cross variant can be seen on other churches in the Artik area; for example, on the rear façade of the 5th-century Surb Astvatsatsin Church/Surb Marine Church in the center of Artik, and also on the walls of the 7th-century
Pemzashen Church. The
apse of the church has important 7th-century
frescoes, with remnants of scenes depicting
Jesus in the center surrounded by symbols of heavenly powers. There is also an image of
Saint George riding on a horse while holding a staff topped with a cross. Between 1955 and 1956 Saint Stephen was partially renovated. Excavations took place during 1960 to clear out the area in front of the church and under the stones:
khachkars and a
Bronze Age cemetery were uncovered. Some of these khachkars can be seen in and along the retaining walls next to the church. Other tombstones are nearby. == Folklore ==