The center of Armenia is the heart of the country's Christian spirituality; some of the most important and well-known monasteries are concentrated here. Located in dominant positions with austere but at the same time elegant architecture, they are examples of ingenuity often wrapped in that aura of magic and silence that entice the visitor to discover them. In this guide we will indicate some destinations to visit while traveling in the capital Yerevan, on the slopes of Mount Ararat, and in its surroundings in the name of spirituality.
Half an hour's drive from Yerevan you reach the city of Echmiatsin â also referred to as Vagharshapat -, where Saint Gregory the Illuminator founded the apostolic church in Armenia. The first, built in the year 303, dedicated to the Mother of God. The place of Vagharshapat is part of the UNESCO world heritage site: this honor is due to the fact that it is a territory of important historical, artistic and religious value. It is considered the oldest cathedral in the world.
Vagharshapat Cathedral has three entrances: the first, which is that of the bell tower, the second and third to the north-east and south-east; a fourth entrance located in the area of ââthe eastern corner, but not accessible as it is walled up, the arch which attests to its existence is still visible. The cathedral stands on a quadrangular garden where there are other buildings reserved for the monks as well as the seminary.
In this place, a short distance from Yerevan, precious relics are kept such as the Holy Lance of Antioch also known as the Lance of Longinus, fragments of wood attributable toNoah's Ark and other relics belonging to the apostles Peter, Andrew and Judas Thaddeus. In addition to the Echmiadzin Cathedral, the churches of Santa-Gaiana and Santa-Ripsima and Shoghakat belonging to the 7th century can be admired in the city, which contain precious examples of Armenian ecclesiastical art.
Deciding to embark on the road to the monasteries in the center of Armenia will allow you to discover exceptional places and sites, but the journey itself will give you splendid emotions since nature itself offers them. The art and splendid nature of the Caucasus form a perfect combination that allows you to appreciate and be amazed by Khor Virap, south of Yerevan. It is a red stone monastery perched on a rocky hill on the slopes of Mount Ararat which embraces it from behind. Wonderful!
Built during the reign of Arshakidi on a hill which, at that time, served as a prison for the condemned, the monastery hosted Saint Gregory the Illuminator, founder of Christianity in Armenia, detained in a well for 12 years by order of the pagan king Tiridates III . Gregory, considered guilty of having professed and spread the religion, was then freed by order of the king's sister following a vision. The saint's liberation would have allowed Gregory to heal the sovereign from an illness and welcome his conversion. It is possible to visit the 6/7 meter deep well above which the church dedicated to the saint was built.
Heading north-east of Yerevan, covering about sixty kilometres, in a valley of the Geghama mountains, in the province of Kotayk, you come across geghard one of the most beautiful monasteries in Armenia. The peculiarity lies in its construction: it was partly built in a classical way and partly exploiting the erosion of the rock which is adorned with wonderful bas-reliefs as well as the interior illuminated by natural light that filters through slits.
Although the Geghard chapel dates back to 1215, the monastery was founded in the XNUMXth century by Saint Gregory the Illuminator where a sacred spring flowed inside a cave. The chapel dedicated to the saint is rectangular in shape with a horseshoe apse and on the sides there are various tunnels dug into the rock walls. The internal walls were probably frescoed as traces of plaster and parts of frescoes are clearly visible.
The ancient name of the monastery was Ayrivank which translated means âthe cave monasteryâ. Some of the churches that are part of the Geghard complex are carved into the rock face; others supported by masonry parts and rock parts. Not far from the monastery is the Garni temple which structurally resembles the Parthenon.
There are many destinations in the vicinity of Yerevan that can be reached to still be amazed by the history of Christianity, some in full preservation and others in more decline. Zvartnot, for example, another very important site on the outskirts of Yerevan (about 15 kilometers) which has also been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000.
The interior of the Zvartnots church boasts precious frescoes and a Greek cross plan with three naves; according to some studies following the excavations conducted by Toros Toromanian, the structure must have had three floors. The exterior of the church was a 32-sided polygon that from a distance must have appeared circular in shape. The first 100 dram banknote featured the design of this cathedral.
I Armenian monasteries they seem like many sentinels and some of these fully convey the fervor with which the Armenian people are guardians of religious worship; these places so out of time leave no room for suggestion because it is already their history that leaves no one indifferent. Once back in the capital, we suggest you enjoy the more frivolous city, but no less stimulating from a cultural point of view, music, cinema and food and wine.
