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From Noah till Nowadays
| One of our most exciting tours gives you the opportunity to discover religious Armenia with all its dioceses from very early ages successively up to present days. The excursion combines visits to breathtaking holy places, including the most important sites of Armenia, with active participation in various interesting events and meetings with prominent Armenians. You have the opportunity to travel with other people having religious background and interested to discover the Christian Armenia with the guiding of truly spiritual and knowledgeable guides, specially educated and experienced in Christian pilgrimages and inter-church relations. Alongside with regular tourism and visits to pilgrimage destinations, you will also be given the opportunity to participate in the events and prayers. A separate day for walking pilgrimage is also designed in this tour package, which can be changed/discussed upon the request. |
» General Data
» Itineraries
» Application Form
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General Data
| Destinations/Sites: |
Amberd St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) Church, Etchmiadzin Cathedral, Etchmiadzin Cathedral Museum, Gayane Church, Geghard Monastery (Ayrivank), Gyumri St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) Church, Haghartsin Monastery, Haghpat Monastery, Hayravank Monastery, Hripsime Church, Karmravor Church, Khor Virap Monastery, Makaravank Monastery, Marmashen Monastery, Matenadaran after St. Mesrop Mashtotz, Mughni Monastery (St. Gevork Monastery), Noratus Khachkar (Cross-Stone) “Forest”, Noravank Monastery, Odzun St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) Church, Oshakan St. Mesrop Mashtotz Church, Pontifical Residence Museum, Saghmosavank Monastery, Sanahin Monastery, Sevanavank Monastery, Shoghakat Church, Vanadzor Srbots Mankants (Holy Children) Chapel, Yerevan St. Grigor Lusavorich (Gregory the Illuminator) Cathedral, Yerevan Surb Yerrordutiun (Holy Trinity) Church, Zvartnots Cathedral |
| Recommended for: |
First time visitors with moderate spiritual experience |
| Duration: |
12 days, 13 nights
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| Regions: |
Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Gegharkounik, Kotayk, Lori, Shirak, Tavush, Vayots Dzor, Yerevan |
| Dioceses: |
Aragatsotn, Araratian Pontifical Diocese, Gegharkounik, Gougark, Shirak, Siunik, Under the auspice of the Mother See |
| Lodging: |
9 overnights in Yerevan and 2 overnights in Vanadzor |
| Meals: |
12 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 9 dinners |
| Means for Transport: |
Comfortable vehicles with air conditioning. Some walking is also part of itineraries |
| Assigned staff: |
Professional Guide fluent in English, Tour Manager |
| Included: |
• Accommodation for 13 nights
• Meals
• Guiding
• Pilgrimages and sightseeing
• Cultural events (as mentioned in the itineraries)
• Transportation
• Meeting and transfer to/from the Airport
• Portfolio with information kits |
| Excluded: |
• Flight costs and visa fees
• Airport departure tax (AMD 10,000 per person)
• Optional activities |
Itineraries
DAY 1. Noah's Mount Ararat - the witness of proclamation of Christianity |
| Our pilgrimages start with a greeting and prayer. Today you will get to know the country through its historical city Yerevan - the capital of Armenia. In the Matenadaran manuscript museum, the history will come alive through manuscripts which have been preserved through innumerable invasions and wars. You can enjoy spectacular views of Yerevan during a stroll through Victory Park above the city.
The most thrilling place to see is Khor Virap, the cradle of the first Christian state. It is a deep pit under the quaint church, with Mt. Ararat looming in the background that St. Grigor Lusavorich (St. Gregory the Illuminator) was entombed for 14 years for preaching Christianity at the end of the 3rd century. Today you can descend into the pit that has turned into a sacred chamber and feel the power of faith and the presence of God. |
DAY 2. Descent of the Only Begotten Son of God  |
| After the morning prayer we will set out for St. Hripsime Church, where the virgin Hripsime, a 3rd century follower of Christ was martyred. The church has her shrine and the relics of her spirituals sisters. St. Gayane is the name of the mother superior on the place of whose martyrdom another church was erected. After lunch we will move to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin - the spiritual and administrative centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church as well as the heart of all the Armenians for more than 1700 years. Here we will see the innumerable treasures and relics at the Mother Cathedral Museum and the Residence of the All Armenian Patriarch. Meeting with clergy will be arranged. We will also see the architectural masterpiece of the ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral (translated as “Place of Angels”), where once a glorious cathedral stood built in the 7th century. After dinner we will most likely enjoy the company of an interesting guest speaker. |
DAY 3. 36 Soldiers - a Gift of God.jpg "Armenian Alphabet by Grigor Khandjian") |
| The day will begin with a pilgrimage to the shrine of the Armenian alphabet on the outskirts of Yerevan. We will see a famous church in Oshakan on the grave of St. Mesrop Mashtotz. The 36 beautiful letters, known also as the “God-given 36 soldiers” have protected Armenia and its Church through all the tribulations of history. A lecture or meeting will be held at Dpratun, a nice renovated conference centre next to the church. Visits or walks to other small churches and chapels are also possible in Oshakan. The lunch nearby a medieval bridge will set the mysterious tone of the day. After lunch, three charming churches will be waiting for us, namely Tsiranavor, Karmravor and Spitakavor. All of them are devoted to the Holy Mother of God. |
DAY 4. Holy Spear's Refuge |
| Exploring the marvelous complex of Geghard (one of the renowned pilgrimage destinations of Armenia included in the UNESCO World Heritage List) provides a memorable day. It is here that the Holy Lance with which our Lord was wounded was kept for 5 centuries. The complex is amazingly and intricately carved into a cave. The visit stimulates all your senses. The other miracles to see, hear and feel are the healing water spring inside the church, the angel-like echoes of singing in the chambers, and the soft light filtering through the architectural details. Geghard is an inspirational place for isolating and immersing into oneself for prayer! After a packed lunch near the river Azat, we will travel to Garni village to visit some old churches and the classical ancient temple above the breathtaking Garni gorge. On the way back to Yerevan, we will be hosted by the parish of Jrvezh, a small village near Yerevan. There we will enjoy discussions, interesting stories, film watching, singing and a traditional dinner. |
DAY 5. Blessing from All-Saviour - Miraculous Khachkar |
| Today we will view the fantastic monasteries in the area of Alaverdi, namely Odzun, Sanahin and Haghpat. To get to Odzun we will have a breathtaking upward tour to the mountain top hosting the church which is considered one of the finest Armenian cupola'd basilicas (6th c.). Then the tour will take a direction to the 10th century architectural embodiments, the complexes of Sanahin and Haghpat (both of which are inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage list). The complexes are rich in khachkars. The one that stands out is the miraculous Amenaprkich Khachkar in Haghpat. Before enjoying dinner in Vanadzor (one of Armenia’s resorts) we are most likely to be hosted by children of a benevolent project Zangakatun. The possible meeting with an official from Diocese of Gougark will conclude the day.
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DAY 6. Walk and Pray |
| This day is the pilgrimage day in its historical meaning – we will spend the day walking and praying during the climb to Makaravank, an architectural church complex of 10-12th centuries. From its commanding position, the panorama of the Aghstev river valley and the flatlands of the Kour river basin open out before the observer. Further on in the day we will be fulfilled with Bible Study (can be organized also by pilgrims), prayers, and singing influenced by the magic environment. The spiritual hours will be domed in the service of vespers in the church. Dinner in Vanadzor will be provided after the long walk.
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DAY 7. "God's Eye Open" in Armenia |
| Moving to the Tavush region, the monastery of Haghartsin deep in the forests near Dilijan is waiting to astonish us with its unique harmony of nature and architecture having a secret in its walls. Lake Sevan with the ever changing colours will provide us with the perfect environment to have lunch. On the peninsula of Lake Sevan, we will visit the Sevanavank Monastery. On the shore of Lake Sevan it is worth seeing Noratus, “the forest” of Khachkars and Hayravank Monastery of the late 9th century. |
DAY 8. Stone Psalms |
| We will make a day of medieval atmosphere where each of us can fancy ourselves as an ancient Armenian queen or king. The Fortress of Amberd will be the host. Constructed in the 10-12th centuries on the southern slopes of Mt. Aragats, it was the defence and the shelter for many noble families. To feel the power of the psalms and prayers we will visit the Saghmosavank Monastery (Monastery of Psalms). Built in the 13th century, the monastery stands on the west rim of the spectacular Kasakh River Gorge. The last site to discover today is Mughni. In the spirit of the day’s air of medieval time, we will move on to Ashtarak, where we will have a chance visit the Horse Riding Club.
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DAY 9. Freedom of ChoiceThis day is specially designed for you to chose either you want to relax, to meet people with whom you didn’t have the time or opportunity to meet, or to join us for another pilgrimage or event. You are also free to spend your time in cafes, restaurants or other recommended places that you can learn from your guides. Any suggestions are welcomed to design this day of freedom!
DAY 10. Power of Resurrection |
| Today we will visit Gyumri, Armenia’s “second city” and now best known for having experienced a disastrous earthquake in 1988. Yet the town has a lot to offer tourists. One of its treasures is the historical settlement Yereruyk, an impressive basilica of the 5th century in ruins with an Iron Age cemetery close to it. Though roofless, it is one of the most architecturally important in Armenia. Next we will explore Yotverk, a 17th century church which united believers in Soviet times as the only church that did not stop functioning under that regime. After lunch, we’ll travel into a gorge to see Marmarashen - one of Armenian's most interesting and beautifully situated monasteries. The meeting with the parish of St. Hakob church (meeting with youth union and with a representative from Shirak Diocese) will fulfil the day. The experience in Gyumri will be rounded out by dinner in the typical environment with local traditions.
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DAY 11. Stone Embroidered Prayers |
| We start the day with prayers as usual. It will be the day of revealing the educational centres of Armenian Christian cultural heritage, namely Gladzor once having been an important university with churches of St. Stepanos (1273-1279), Varaga St. Nshan built in the 13th century and a basilica of the 5th century. Numerous Khachkars witness a key role of faith in the science progress. After lunch, we will make the breath-taking drive through the stict rocks of the gorge of Yeghegnadzor which leads us to Noravank (4-13th centuries). Noravank is an architectural jewel perched atop the red cliffs, which both stand out and yet still blends in with the spectacular natural environment. It is the work of Momik, a famous Armenian stone embroider. Mysterious stories as well as historical events once happened in this terrain are waiting for us. The dinner in Yerevan with the sounds of national instruments will sum up the day’s impression.
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DAY 12. Practicing Christianity Today |
| This day will be the last day in our pilgrimage program that shows you the living Christianity today with its architecture. The Church of Surb Yerrordutiun is a resemblance of once famous Zvartnots, and it is in its hall where we will meet our last lecturer or guest. The pilgrimage tour started and will finish by paying tribute to St. Gregory by visiting the new Cathedral and bowing before the relics of this great Saint. After lunch in the centre of Yerevan we will visit another newly built church in Yerevan. Our farewell dinner will be accompanied by live music and the hope to meet again.
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Application Form
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 Design your tour here.
Biblical Mount Ararat
IV Century Churches and Monasteries
The Miraculous Khachkars
Noratus Khachkar (Cross-Stone) “Forest” (IX - XV cc.)
This medieval cemetery with a small chapel on its territory protected the villagers from the invasion of Tamerlane.
Noratus Cemetery is known to be:
♦ the largest surviving collection of khachkars,
♦ a place of miracles and legends,
♦ a place of cultural heritage, and
♦ a great opportunity for prayer.
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