In the Southern Caucasus, bounded by Georgia on the north, Azerbaijan on the east, Iran on the south and Turkey on the west, lies a piece of land blessed with stunning natural beauty. This is Armenia – a country of overwhelming emotions, religious and spiritual experiences, excitement and pleasure, interesting tours and entertaining adventures that has drawn millions of faithful pilgrims from around the world for thousands of years.
The first country in the world to officially embrace Christianity as a state religion more than 1,700 years ago, and having one of the world’s oldest civilizations, Armenia truly makes for a great pilgrimage destination, where there is no end to historical, cultural and natural attractions that will make you return again and again.
A pilgrimage to Armenia is a precious opportunity to visit centuries-old churches and monasteries that adorn the country’s spiritual landscape, amazing towns and cities, each with its own interesting story or legend, and other sacred treasures of Christian history, all combined with experiencing the local culture, awe-inspiring cuisine – a combination of different tastes and aromas, and having personal interaction with warm, friendly locals. Those who are short of time can take advantage of car rentals and experience Armenia in a few days.
Yerevan
Begin your spiritual trip to Armenia from Yerevan, the country’s vibrant capital and the largest city that is considered one of the most significant scientific, industrial and cultural centers in the Caucasus region. Few cities can boast and be so proud of their age, but Yerevan can, as it’s older than the ‘eternal city’ of Rome.Known as the ‘City of the Sun and Light,’ Yerevan is loaded with attractions and things to do that will keep you busy all day long.
The most important sight in the city is probably the Erebuni Fortress, which dates back to 8th century B.C., and was founded during the Urartian Kingdom by King Argishti. Other architectural monuments that are not to be missed on your tip to Yerevan include: the charming Republic Square, endowed by singing fountains and a magnificent mosaic rock carpet, which covers 3,000 year old ruins underneath it; Matenadaran, a world-class museum and a major research center boasting one of the world’s largest manuscript collections; and Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial, commemorating the 1.5 million Armenians killed in the Armenian Genocide of 1915 by Ottoman Turks and Kurds.
Highly recommended in Yerevan is also the must-see Cascade, built by the world-famous Armenian architect Alexander Tamanyan, which is a massive staircase connecting central Yerevan to the Victory Park, presenting statues from world-known sculptors in its each level. From the top of Cascade you can admire a truly magical view over the city of Yerevan and the biblical Mount Ararat, while at the bottom of the stairs one can find a nice, colorful garden with lots of unique statues and the recently opened Cafesjian Center for the arts, dedicated to bringing the best of contemporary art to Armenia.
With a wealth of museums, art galleries and concert halls, numerous cafes, restaurants and bars, beautiful gardens and parks, great shopping opportunities and superb accommodation options and even more Yerevan is a place to be!
Town of Echmiadzin
With Yerevan as your base you can easily visit the holy town of Echmiadzin (meaning ‘the place where the Only Begotten Son of God descended’), the spiritual and administrative center of the Armenian Apostolic Church a place of pilgrimage for Christian Armenians from all over the world, famous for its numerous churches, monasteries and interesting architecture set against picturesque backgrounds.
The Echmiadzin Cathedral is the highlight of the town, one of the oldest Christian churches built in the 4th century, featuring a museum, which preserves truly valuable paintings and religious artifacts. There is an interesting legend about this church, which goes that St. Gregory, known as the Holy Illuminator as he enlightened King Trdat and led him to Christianity in 301, had a vision of Christ coming down from the clouds and striking the ground at Echmiadzin with a golden hammer, thus designating the location of the new church. It is one of the most visited sites in Armenia that attracts visitors with both its exterior and interior.
Appealing are also the churches of St. Gayane (640-41cc. A.D.) and St. Hripsime (618 A.D.), both masterpieces of Armenian architecture and UNESCO World Heritage Sites that never fail to amaze tourists with their harmonious proportions and solemn interiors. Shoghakat church is yet another architectural marvel added much later to the city’s architectural collection. While in Echmiadzin, make sure try a local delicacy named kyufta, with authentic flavor you’ll truly appreciate.
Temple of Garni & Geghard Monastery
No pilgrimage to Armenia is complete without visiting the Pagan temple of Garni and Geghard monastery on daytrips.
Ideally nestled in the gorge of the river Azat, some 15-20 miles from the capital city of Yerevan, the pagan temple of Garni is an astounding piece of Armenian architecture that was built in the 1st century A.D., as a summer residence for the rulers of the country, including King Khosrov. Garni is one of the most popular places of interest in Armenia that always draws visitors with its greek-style architecture and its spectacularly beautiful surroundings. Those international travelers who have visited this truly magnificent architectural wonder often say that visiting Garni is much like being in Italy.
Situated 6 kilometers from the temple at Garni is the majestic Geghard Monastery, revered throughout the country as one of Armenia’s greatest spiritual and cultural centers. Comprising a number of churches and tombs, most of them cut into the rock, Geghard dates from 1215, and was built amongst rocks beside which the river flows. While in Geghard, make sure to check out the singing caves, where your voice will be echoed with delightful sounds. Near the entrance of the monastery one can find a gift shop, selling Armenian souvenirs.
For their exceptional beauty, both Garni and Geghard did not remain unnoticed and now they are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Haghpat & Sanahin Monasteries
Among other honored places you should not miss out during your pilgrimage to Armenia are the truly exclusive complexes of Haghpat and Sanahin Monasteries that were both important centers of learning. Located in the debed Canyon, in the Lori region of Armenia, the monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin date back to the 10th-13th centuries, and represent a blend of vernacular and Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture. For ‘the highest flowering of Armenian religious architecture,’ the monasteries were inscribed as World Heritage Sites during the 20th session of the World Heritage Committee, when it met in Merida, Mexico on 2-7 December, 1996.
Haghpat Monastery, also known as Haghpatavank, was built by the royal Bagratouni dynasty in the 970s and was known from early times as Surb Nshan (the Holy Cross). During the centuries it suffered from earthquakes and in 1105 taken and burned by the Selcuk prince Amir-Ghzil. Monastic life continued and in the 13th century new buildings were added. There was a period ssof extensive restoration also in the 17th century. The highlight of Haghpat is its numerous splendid khachkars (cross-stones) of the 11th -13th centuries that never leave tourists indifferent.
The monastery of Sanahin (in Armenian meaning ‘older than that,’ evoking that it’s older than the nearby Haghpat Monastery) is yet another architectural wonder in Armenia, founded by the Armenian monks escaped from Byzantium by the persecutions of the byzantine emperor. The exact date of foundation of Sanahin is unknown. The monastery is made up of several buildings erected at different times. Not to be missed are Surb Astvatsatsin church (Holy Mother of God), Amenaprkich church (Saver), their corresponding gavits, Surb Grigor chapel, academy, library and clock tower.
Khor Virap
One of the favorite places of those who make Pilgrimage to Armenia is also the majestic Khor Virap Monastery (meaning deep pit), a shrine to Armenian Christianity built in the 6th-17th centuries, where Gregory the Enlightener, the first Catholicos of Armenia, was imprisoned for 13 years for preaching Christianity. 30 km south of Yerevan, at the foot of Mt. Ararat, Khor Virap is a truly unique architectural monument. It’s in the close proximity to the border between Armenia and Turkey on the hill near the village of Pokr Vedi (Small Vedi) and is a must for any traveler to Armenia. Khor Virap offers a spectacular view of the Mt. Ararat and is one of the country’s most visited sacred sights.
Tatev Monastery
Another amazing monastery in Armenia, Tatev is a masterpiece of confluence of ingenious medieval architecture and miraculous nature. Located in the southern part of Armenia, in the Syunik region, the stunning Tatev Monastery was built on the edge of a giant gorge in the 4th century and since its foundation has been a major cultural center of Armenia. Later, at the end of the 11th century three more churches were added, among which a hall for pilgrims.
Today the architectural complex is presented to us in all its majesty. At the center of the ensemble is St. Peter and Paul Church (Surb Poghos Petros), the main and largest structure of the monastery, famous for its big external volumes of the church dome and the high round drum topped with umbellate dome. The most ancient church is St. Gregory the Illuminator Temple that adjoins the south side of the main cathedral, while the cult monument, Gavazan (Staff) is found near the monastery premises and is also among the number of unique works of architectural-engineering art of Armenia.
The list of Armenian churches and monasteries is not limited by the above described architectural wonders. No, Armenia has many more amazing ancient monuments ‘hidden’ in different corners of the country; I say hidden, because historically, Armenians built their monasteries far from the eye of their hostile neighbors to avoid destruction and massacre. If you have time, it’s highly recommended to visit all of them to reveal many secrets about this landlocked country.
Tours and Tour Agencies
There are numerous tour agencies in Yerevan that can organize pilgrimage tours throughout Armenia. Among them is SimaTours, offering everything from multi-day tours, to pilgrimages to daily tours. The religious tours will give you a unique chance to visit the Land of Noah and discover a wealth of charm and history this truly amazing piece of land has on offer. So, welcome to Armenia and get ready for a trip of a lifetime!
