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Armenia and the Armenians
| This tour reveals the ancient and modern land of Armenia with its landscapes, history, culture, habits, cuisine and surely the people who inherited this land from Noah and still continue to live here. In a fortnight you will have the opportunity to see almost all the regions of Armenia together with Mountainous Karabakh with a few overnights out of Yerevan. We invite you to combine spiritual retreat with tourist experience and cultural nourishment. |
» General Data
» Itineraries
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General Data
| Destinations/Sites: |
Alex and Marie Manoogian Treasury House Museum, Amberd St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) Church, Etchmiadzin Cathedral, Etchmiadzin Cathedral Museum, Gandzasar Monastery, Geghard Monastery (Ayrivank), Gyumri St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) Church, Haghartsin Monastery, Haghpat Monastery, Hripsime Church, Khor Virap Monastery, Marmashen Monastery, Matenadaran after St. Mesrop Mashtotz, Noravank Monastery, Oshakan St. Mesrop Mashtotz Church, Pontifical Residence Museum, Sanahin Monastery, Sevanavank Monastery, Tegher Monastery |
| Recommended for: |
First time visitors with moderate spiritual experience |
| Duration: |
14 days, 15 nights
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| Regions: |
Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Gegharkounik, Karabakh, Kotayk, Lori, Shirak, Tavush, Vayots Dzor, Yerevan |
| Dioceses: |
Aragatsotn, Araratian Pontifical Diocese, Artsakh, Gegharkounik, Gougark, Shirak, Siunik, Under the auspice of the Mother See |
| Lodging: |
Comfortable accommodation of your choice |
| Meals: |
14 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 12 dinners |
| Means for Transport: |
Comfortable vehicles with air conditioning. Some walking is also part of itineraries |
| Assigned staff: |
Guide, Tour Manager |
| Included: |
• Accommodation for 15 nights (11 nights in Yerevan, 3 nights in Karabakh, 1 night in Lori)
• Meals
• Guiding
• Museums, sightseeing, local guiding
• Transportation
• Transfer to/from the Airport
• Portfolio with information kits
• Cultural events (as mentioned in the itineraries) |
| Excluded: |
• Armenia visa fees
• Karabakh visa fees
• Airport departure tax (AMD10,000)
• Optional activities |
Itineraries
DAY 1. Urartu – the Ararat Kingdom
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| Usually the flights to Yerevan are at nights or early mornings, this is the reason that we plan to start the first day of our trip at 10:00am with an introduction tour to Yerevan - a modern capital but one of the most ancient towns of the world, founded in 782 BC. After lunch in a nice restaurant in the centre of the town we will visit Matenadaran - the depository of ancient manuscripts. After an optional cultural program of the evening we will gather for the welcome dinner. |
DAY 2. Armenia – the first Christian Kingdom 
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| The heart of Armenia for all Armenians is the Mother See of Etchmiadzin. It is only 20 km away from Yerevan and has been a refuge for the whole Armenian nation, its spirit and thought. Besides marvellous churches and monasteries there are museums in Etchmiadzin exhibiting the works and crafts from the depths of the ages. Every pilgrim wishes to bow before the holy relics of St. Gregory and other saints and apostles of Christ, the piece of Noah’s ark, a relic from the cross of the Lord and many others kept here. A meeting with clergy will be arranged. After spiritual and bodily refreshments our pilgrimage will continue to Oshakan to the sepulchre of St. Mesrop Mashtotz the inventor of Armenian Alphabet. Right after writing the alphabet in 405 the translators worked on the Bible in Armenian, which was called the Queen of Translations and saved Armenians from being merged with the rivals and neighbours and preserve their Christian-national identity. The dinner will be prepared in Ashtarak, though our participation will be needed to finish laying the table with freshly baked lavash. This will be a good test for those who like hands in kitchen! | DAY 3. Small survived land – kingdom of stones 
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| Armenians have an experience of several millennia of implementing their skills in surviving amongst the stones. This day we will eye witness how stone could become also the spiritual bread for people even today almost 8 centuries after the cave monastery of Geghard was built thoroughly. After a nice concert there we will continue to Garni which has been a summer residence for Armenian kings still in pagan times. The lunch will be by the gorge of river Azat (meaning “Free”). A visit to the Genocide Museum and memorial is arranged in the second half of the day. The evening is free.
Suggestion: to visit the Stone Gallery in Yerevan.
| DAY 4. Highest crown of Armenian kings – kingdom of stars 
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| Aragats is the highest mountain in the Republic of Armenia - 4095 metres above see level. It has 4 peaks and the most prior sky during the year. This is the reason that from very early centuries BC there have been observatories on the mountain. This day we will see one ancient and one working Space studying Centres and visit some churches on the mountain, one of them near the fortress of Amberd fortress ruined from the fire in the 13th century.
| DAY 5. Community - kingdom of children 
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| We will join in the Sunday Devine Liturgy at a church parish of Jrvezhe where there is an organized community with a lot of children, whose is the kingdom of Heaven. The lunch will be in the parish centre with nice company. There will be also a visit to an orphanage arranged to pass the Sunday joy to the children in need of first of all spiritual and friendly nourishment.
| DAY 6. Resurrected town – kingdom of art and humour 
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| Gyumri has been always a town of many talented people, great humour and national atmosphere. On the way there we will visit a very early church of Mastara on the holy relics of St. John the Baptist. Gyumri will host us with its churches, museums and of course taverns and interesting people and musicians. Here we will have the chance also to get the blessing from the bishop. Though the city suffered a lot from the earthquake of 1988, but the spirit was not broken and it is still the second biggest town in Armenia. Not very far monastic complex of Marmashen has another history and power that gives a different feeling to the pilgrims praying there. | DAY 7. Armenians – citizens of the kingdom of freedom DAY 8. Human being and nature – kingdom of harmony 
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| The monastery of Khor Virap is the cradle of Armenian official Christianity and is situated right at the foot of the Biblical Mount Ararat. If weather permits we will have nice inspiration and photographs. A masterpiece of architecture and stone carving is Noravank monastery is in full harmony with the mysterious and steep gorge carved by the Heavenly Hand. On our long trip to Mountainous Karabakh we will visit also now abandoned caves of Khndzoresk very much like Capadocian ones.
| DAY 9. Mountainous Karabakh – kingdom of unbreakable spirit 
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| After the city tour in Stepanakert the present capital of Artsakh we will start our trip to Gandzasar (meaning “Treasure Mountain”), a very important monastery and edifice, that was not been invaded or harmed by Azeris during Karabakh war. The abbot priest of the Monastery will reveal us the story of the war and peace as well as the spiritual power of the sacred place. Our meal will be arranged with nice ethnographical events and traditional Artsakh food. The walls of Mairaberd are another witness of the victorious history of Artsakh.
| DAY 10. Ancient centres – kingdom of intelligence 
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| Shushi has been the cultural and administrative centre for Artsakh for many years before the Soviets came. It also served as the first step towards the victories of Karabakh war. It is a good example of a battle for self survival and independence interwoven with prayers and trusting in God. Amaras is another holy place and centre for Armenian thought and prayer. The cultural program will finish our evening and stay in Karabakh.
| DAY 11. Hills – kingdom of winds and waters  |
| The mystery of world known can be partially explained in this similar but more ancient Armenian “Karahunge” or Zorats Karer. Bigger with smaller stones and holes in them to discover and follow the sky. It is situated nearby now not very big town of Sisian, which has a lot of archaeological, religious, cultural and just site-seeing places all around. The famous waterfall in Jermuk and its healing waters of various temperatures will hopefully smooth us on the long trip from Stepanakert to Yerevan.
| DAY 12. Fresh water and fresh soul – kingdom of life 
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| The queen for our whole trip is the famous lake Sevan one of the biggest fresh water reservoirs in the world placed by the Divine Hand so high as approximately 2000 metres above see level. In summer it is very nice to swim in its freshening water or sunbathe in the soft sand o its beaches. A trip with a yacht, windsurfing or other leisure preferences can be included this day upon prior request. The nature will suddenly change after the end of the tunnel which connects this region with the spa town of Dilijan, close to which in the forest up the hill is the monastery of Haghartsin – a real place of inspiration, seclusion and prayer.
| DAY 13. Churches and monasteries – embassies of the kingdom of God 
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| The atmosphere and the stones absorbed with prayers and singing of centuries make oneself feel so deep in himself or herself and so up in the heavens. The famous monasteries of Sanahin and Haghpat facing each other from the two sides of the gorge are the firm walls that lead you to the kingdom of God even without any ambassadors or guides.
Aparan is a famous town with its naive but humorous inhabitants. Their joyful company will host us in a 4th century basilica for the evening service and lateron singing around the dinner table.
| DAY 14. Friendship forever – kingdom of eternity 
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| The last day of our pilgrimage we have left almost free. Those who had some plans or intentions that could not fulfil during the last days are free to fit it in this day, whereas those who would still like to see more will be invited to discover history, art, shops or other spheres of life in our optional program before evening, which will be the farewell party and the end of our fortnights pilgrimage but hopefully the beginning of our friendship.
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Application Form
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 Design your tour here.
Biblical Mount Ararat
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
IV Century Churches and Monasteries
Old Residence of the Catholicos Museum (XVIII c.)
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