Today was a full day of experiencing facets that represent Armenia over 21 centuries. – Cave churches, liturgical music, pre-Christian pagan temple, folk music, local food, genocide museum and monument.
Our first stop was a view of Mount Ararat – now in Turkey, but still belonging to all Armenians. Do you see Noah’s Ark on the top?
Onward to Geghard (meaning “spear”) monastery. containing a number of churches and tombs, most of them cut into the rock, illustrating Armenian architecture in the 13th century. The complex of medieval buildings is set into a landscape of towering cliffs at the entrance to the Azat Valley.
Entering the complex we saw a number of Cross stones which are used as headstones. There are more than 60,000 in Armenia- each is different – created from the 9th Century until present. Only 6 in Armenia depict Jesus crucified on cross.
The monuments included in the property are dated from the 4th to the 13th century. At the early period, the Monastery was called Ayrivank (Monastery in the Cave) because of its rock-cut construction. The monastery was founded, according to tradition by St. Gregory the Illuminator, and was built following the adoption of Christianity as a state religion in Armenia (beginning of the 4th century AD). The carving starts at the top of the dome and the craftsmen work downwards carving everything out of the side of the mountain.
A burial tomb – also carved out.
The entrance way
We were treated to the sound of a choir singing liturgical chants in the hollowed out tomb with the most amazing acoustics.
Onward to the pagan temple of Garni built by King Tiridates I in the first century AD as a temple to the sun god Mihr (Mithra).
It was destroyed in the 1679 earthquake, but rebuilt using many of the original stones.
The village of Garni where we enjoyed lunch in the garden and saw women making lavash bread which we tried with Armenian cheese and fresh herbs.
The somber end to the day was visiting the Armenian Genocide Museum and monument.
