Where would you assumption was the very first Christian country on earth? Italy perhaps? Dehogy! It was Armenia.
This little country in the Caucuses was the very first nation to embrace Christianity as its specify religious beliefs in 301 AD. In fact, Christianity began to spread throughout Armenia soon after the death of Jesus Christ. As a result, there are countless religious buildings as well as artefacts scattered across Armenia.
Armenia has been referred to as an ‘open-air museum of Christianity’, as well as we believe that’s a quite precise description!
One of the primary reasons we travelled to Armenia was to see the stunning monasteries dotted across the Armenian countryside. many of these monasteries date back numerous years as well as are commonly found in remote gorges or atop mountains. Some are even carved into rocky cliff faces.
There are so many monasteries to select from in Armenia, so we have listed our 5 favourites below to get you started. the very best part? entry to all of these monasteries is free!
1. Geghard Monastery
Geghard Monastery is the most accessible monastery in Armenia, found less than one hour’s drive from Yerevan. This rock-hewn monastic complex is an incredible example of the building skills of Armenia’s medieval architects.
The primary buildings were completed in the 13th century, however some sections of the monastery date back as far as 1177 AD. An entire neighborhood of monks were housed in the complex as well as the monks lived, examined as well as worked here. The monastery included a school, scriptorium as well as a library, however likewise held important religious relics. the most famous relic was the spear that injured Christ on the Cross, however this is now missing.
Getting to Geghard Monastery
There are lots of tour business as well as hostels in Yerevan offering fairly priced day trips to Geghard Monastery. You can also catch a minibus from the Gai bus station in Yerevan (near the Mercedes Benz shop) to Garni, then catch a taxi or walk to Geghard. The very first bus leaves Yerevan at 11am as well as costs 300 dram. We hired a cars and truck in Armenia, as well as handled to get two speeding tickets as well as hit a few potholes on the method to Geghard!
2. Noravank Monastery
Noravank Monastery is set amongst jaw-dropping red cliffs in a remote gorge off the Yerevan-Goris highway. High profile bishops as well as princes were housed in the 13th century monastery. The Mongols raided the monastery in 1238 AD, but monastery has been able to retain its medieval charm. Noravank is a prominent day trip from Yerevan, so get right here early to beat the tourists. Noravank has a little museum too, which has a few medieval artefacts as well as artworks.
Getting to Noravank Monastery
Noravank Monastery is found 116 kilometres south-east of Yerevan. We suggest visiting Noravank Monastery on a day tour from Yerevan or with your own car. Marshrutky (minivans) from Yerevan or Yeghednadzor can likewise decrease you off at the turn off just outside Areni (at Edem Restaurant). From there you can walk or hitchhike the 6km to the monastery.
3. Tatev Monastery
The Tatev Monastery is one of the most far-flung monasteries in Armenia. As a result, many travellers unfortunately avoid this stunning spot. however we promise it is worth the drive! The monastery is set high upon a clifftop overlooking a significant valley. This working monastery was developed in the 9th century as well as has an eerie medieval feel. Monks still online here, so if you’re lucky you will see them dressed in full garb wandering the grounds.
Getting to Tatev Monastery
Tatev Monastery is found 250 kilometres south-east of Yerevan, however the journey can take as much as 6 hours. The simplest method to see Tatev is by tour or your own car.
You can likewise catch a mashrutka from Yerevan’s Kilikia bus station to Goris (one per day, 3000 dram), or a shared taxi. most people hire a taxi from Goris to the ‘Wings of Tatev’ cable cars and truck in Halidzor village (22 kilometres). The cable cars and truck runs between Halidzor as well as Tatev Monastery (5000 dram return). There are likewise a couple of mashrutkas to Tatev that leave from the market on Syuniki St in Goris. inspect with your guesthouse for present timetables. We likewise satisfied a couple of backpackers who had effectively hitchhiked around the area.
4. Sevanavank Monastery
The hilltop monastery of Sevanavank is not the biggest in Armenia, however it probably has the very best views. The monastery is located on a peninsula just north of Sevan, as well as offers panoramic views of Sevan Lake as wellmint a környező hófödte hegyek.
Mariam hercegnő a templomot 874-ben hozta létre. Igazi romantikus volt, miután számos gyülekezetet fejlesztett ki Örményországban a késő férjének emlékére. By the 19th century, errant monks were being reformed at the isolated monastery.
Sevanavank was at first developed on an island, however after the artificial draining of Lake Sevan during the Soviet age the island ended up being a peninsula. perhaps not isolated sufficient for errant monks any type of more!
A Sevanavank kolostorhoz való eljutás
A Sevanavank kolostor 82 kilométerre található Yerevan északkeleti részén. Rengeteg turné üzlet, valamint a Yerevan szervezési napi kirándulások vannak a Sevan-tóba, amely magában foglalja a Sevanavank kolostort. Akkor is elkaphat egy marshrutkát a Yerevan északi buszpályaudvarától Sevanig. A 10. ábrán látható, hogy fenntartsuk az ülést. Sevan-tól, akkor kaphat egy taxit a kolostorra (1000-1500 DRAM).
5. Sanahin kolostor
The Sanahin Monastery is found in the lovely Debed Canyon. A kolostor az Észak-Örményország távoli részén található, azonban jelentősen befolyásolta a középkori design az egész országban. A Sanahin most az UNESCO Világörökség része az építészeti jelentőségének köszönhetően.
The monastery was developed during the Byzantine age between the 10th as well as 13th centuries, together with close-by Haghpat Monastery. A középkori időkben fontos felfedezési központként szolgált. Ennek eredményeképpen még mindig felfedezheti a középkori könyvtárakat, valamint trükkös rejtekhelyeket a komplexum kéziratokhoz.
Javasoljuk, hogy egy kis tippet fizessünk a felajánlott hivatalos túra számára. The guide will provide you a sneak peek into spaces that are usually locked, as well as can offer a interesting insight into the history of Sanahin.
A Sanahin-kolostorhoz
Sanahin is found near the village of Alaverdi in the Debed Canyon, 165 kilometres north of Yerevan. A megbízható NISSAN MICRA HIRE CAR-ban – hatalmas hiba történt. A regionális tisztviselők lezárták a “főút” a közúti munka (várhatóan 2018-ban), amely rendkívül durva és hosszú kitérőre van szüksége. Talán egy nagyszerű hely a 4wd-ing készségeinek, de nem a legjobb a kis hatchbackek vezetésére.
A legjobb választás az, hogy elkapja a marshrutkát. Marshrutka elhagyja Yerevan kilikia buszállomását az Alaverdi számára. Ha nem tudsz közvetlen kapcsolatot felfedezni, ugyanúgy elkaphat egy marshrutkát a Vanadzorhoz, majd kaphat egy többet Alaverdi-nak.
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