Biblical Journey Through Armenia - The First Christian Country
Biblical Journey Through Armenia - The First Christian Country
6 days|
Overview
A journey through the Biblical country of Armenia offers Christian travelers the opportunity to learn about an ancient culture by visiting world heritage sites, deepen their understanding and appreciation of their faith and experience deep spiritual connection on a different level.
Unknown to most, Armenia is considered to be the First Christian Country by historians. Armenia adopted Christianity as the country’s religion in 301 A.D., many years before Constantine and the Roman Empire officially recognized the Christian faith. To this day, the country is still Christian.
During this tour you will experience genuine interaction with people and create amazing memories, encounter with authentic, diverse and delicious cuisine, explore antique wine making monuments and traditions, and today’s wineries.
Pass through millennia long history up to nowadays modern Armenia and its “Pink City” capital Yerevan, a city that is historically 30 years older than Rome. Travel through history before and after the Christ on the Holy Land, where Noah arrived once upon a time.
Start: Yerevan, Armenia Physical rating: (1 out of 5)
Finish: Yerevan, Armenia Group size: Min 4
Tour Theme: Religious Ages: Min 18 or Family
Duration: 4 days Tour Availability: All year round
Itinerary
Welcome to Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia. Our tour leader will greet you at the airport and help you with all the ground handling services.
After a welcome briefing meeting with the tour leader, program starts with a visit to the spiritual and religious center of Armenia Etchmiadzin. The city is best known as the location of Etchmiadzin Holy Mother Cathedral, the center of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is unofficially known in Western sources as a “Holy City” and in Armenia as the country's "Spiritual Capital". Along with several important early medieval churches located nearby (St. Gayane, St. Hripsime), Etchmiadzin Cathedral was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. In the museum of Etchmiadzin you will see very important and sacred Christian items - The Holy Lance that pierced Jesus’s side (also known as the Spear of Destiny and Lance of Longinus), Relics of Jesus’s disciples St. Thaddeus, St. Peter, St. Andrew, and St. Gregory the Illuminator, wooden pieces from Jesus’s cross and Noah’s Arc.
Lunch will be in Agape Refectory - This building is a restored monks’ refectory from 1655. It is now an elegant restaurant with classic and modern Armenian food where you will feel yourself back in 17th century.
Another amazing monument worth visiting is Zvartnots Cathedral (literally “celestial angels cathedral”) is a 7th-century centrally planned aisled tetra conch type Armenian cathedral. Now in ruins, it is located at the edge of the city of Etchmiadzin, on the background of mesmerizing view to Biblical Mount Ararat. Zvartnots was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2000.
Full of spiritual emotions we had back to the modern and busy Yerevan and will check in to your hotel.
Time to explore the Armenian capital Yerevan – a 2800 year old and modern city, that is historically 30 years older than Rome.
Our city tour will start from Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex, which is dedicated to 1,5 million Armenians who were victims of the first genocide of 20th century committed by the Ottoman Empire in 1915. Since the construction of the Memorial complex in 1967, it has become the inseparable part of the Armenian architecture and a sanctuary for Armenians. Located on the hilltop and separated from the common landscape, the memorial is perfectly intertwined with the surroundings, and the simple outline of the structure is transferred by the spirit of the survivor nation.
Then we will continue our tour and will explore the Republic Square with its dancing and singing fountains, Cascade, Opera House, North Avenue, parks devoted to 2750th and 2800th anniversaries of the city. From the impressive Cascade you have a panoramic view of the whole capital.
Accommodation
- Overnight in Yerevan at 4* or 5* hotel on BB/DBL basis. Single room supplement can be provided at additional cost. Request in advance.
Included Activities
- Etchmiadzin Holy Mother Cathedral
- Hripsime Monastery
- Zvartnots Cathedral
- Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex
- Yerevan City Tour
Meals Included
- Lunch at Etchmiadzin
- Dinner in Yerevan
09:00 – Breakfast in the hotel
10:00 – Starting the tour
The day starts with departure to the villages of Goght and Garni. Our first stop is at Geghard Monastery - an incredible medieval monastery, being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with enhanced protection status. Name Gheghard was given to the monastery, since The Holy Lance (“Geghard” in Armenian), that the Roman pierced Jesus’s side with, was kept here for 500 years before it was moved to Echmiadzin museum.
Here you will have a chance to enjoy the performance of a fantastic choir in one of the chambers of the monastery with one of the greatest acoustics you ever saw. The choir will leave you with goose bumps and unforgettable emotions.
Barely recovered from the musical and cultural strong impressions, we take you to Symphony of Stones (half of the road to the Symphony of Stones is hiking) where you can listen to the silent music of stones, that the virtuoso nature has created himself.
Garni gorge is one of the most exceptional places for tourists to visit and to see amazing natural rocks known as the “Symphony of Stones” or “Basalt organ”. The rocks have a shape of long hexagonal vertical columns, which are associated with the church organ. Huge stone pillars are located at an altitude of about 50 meters above the ground. It’s hard to believe that neatly and symmetrically sculpted stones are created by nature itself and not by human.
We continue towards Garni Temple - the only standing Greco-Roman colonnaded Pagan temple in Armenia and the former Soviet Union. An Ionic pagan temple located in the village of Garni is the best-known structure and symbol of Pre-Christian Armenia. The structure was built in the 1st century AD as a temple to the God of Sun Mihr.
Lunch will be in a cozy Armenian restaurant with a panoramic view to Temple Garni.
We return back to Yerevan where we have a guided tour to Yerevan Ararat Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory - one of the best corners of Yerevan city to enjoy your time.
The administrative building of the factory built in Shustov’s times, has turned into a museum where the information about Armenian brandy making and about the people who had a contribution to the development of the factory is kept.
Here you may take a tour and get acquainted with the glorious past and present of Armenian brandy and wine making and spoil your taste buds by tasting Portwein 1944 year reserve, Cognac 5 and 10 years reserve.
Farewell Dinner will be organized at Megerian Carpets cultural center, including a visit to Armenian handmade rugs factory and museum where you will see traditional carpet making process, participate in an interactive Armenian food preparation master class with one of the most demanded and famous chefs of today’s Armenia - Mr. Sedrak Mamoulian, taste the diversity of Armenian cuisine (including homemade Armenian fruit vodka and wine) and enjoy Armenian music.
Accommodation
- Overnight in Yerevan at 4* or 5* hotel on BB/DBL basis. Single room supplement can be provided at additional cost. Request in advance.
Included Activities
- Geghard Monastery
- Symphony of Stones
- Garni Pagan Temple
- Yerevan NOY Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory
- Megerian Carpet Cultural Centre
Meals Included
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Lunch in Garni
- Farewell Dinner at Megerian Carpet Cultural Centre
08:00 - Breakfast in the hotel
09:00 - Starting the tour
The morning starts by heading to the Southern part of Armenia. From Yerevan we move towards Khor Virap Monastery (in Armenian stands for “deep dungeon”). Khor Virap's notability as a monastery and pilgrimage site is attributed to the fact that Gregory the Illuminator was initially imprisoned here for about 14 years by King Tiridates III of Armenia. Saint Gregory subsequently became the king's religious mentor, and they led the proselytizing activity in the country. In the year 301 Armenia was the first country in the world to be declared a Christian nation.
The walled religious complex also stands before the snowcapped flanks of Biblical Mount Ararat, offering a spectacular view of the mountain and cutting a striking silhouette of itself. As mentioned in the Holy Bible, Noah’s Arc landed on Mount Ararat, and the history of mankind after the flood started from here and the Ararat Valley.
Then we will continue our tour to Armenian architectural masterpiece Noravank Monastic Complex. Noravank means “New Monastery” in Armenian. However, today this name does not fit, as the monastery is already more than seven centuries old. The beautiful Noravank Monastery was built in the 13th century.
The monastery complex is located on a steep mountain ledge, near the cliff. The territory is “framed” by unusual cliffs of bright red color, which create a very picturesque background for the buildings. Noravank Monastery is one of the most visited attractions in Armenia.
Lunch will be at Old Bridge Winery accompanied by tasting of delicious Armenian wines.
To finalize this beautiful day, we will visit Tatev Monastery - a 9th century historical monument. It is one of the oldest and most famous monastery complexes in Armenia. According to legend the monastery was named after Evstateos - the disciple of Thaddeus Apostateus.
During medieval times Tatev Monastery was a vital scholastic, enlightenment and spiritual center and played a singular role in the country’s history. You will reach to Tatev Monastery by the shortest, most picturesque and impressive route, by “Wings of Tatev” - the longest reversible cableway in the world (5752m), recorded in the Guinness Book of Records: twelve minutes of unforgettable flight above the gorge of the fierce Vorotan River, through a celestial highway at the altitude of 320m.
Accommodation
- Overnight in Goris on BB/DBL basis. Single room supplement can be provided at additional cost. Request in advance.
Included Activities
- Khor Virap Monastery
- Areni Cave 1
- Wine degustation at Old Bridge Winery
- Tatev Monastery
- “Wings of Tatev” longest reversible cableway
Meals Included
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Lunch in Old Bridge Winery
- Dinner at the hotel
08:00 - Breakfast in the hotel
09:00 - Starting the tour
The morning starts with a small hiking to the beautiful Shaki Waterfall, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Armenia. On the left side of the river Vorotan's gorge, basalt lava flows have solidified to form a 18 meters high ledge from which the waterfall cascades down. Get closer to the refreshing splashes and enjoy the calming sound of the water. One could stay hours in this magnificent location.
After your refreshing morning hike time to visit the mysterious prehistoric complex of Karahunj (Zorats Karer) (walking). This famous megalithic structure consists of hundreds of vertically arranged stones that are stretched from the south to the north. In the middle, there are about 40 stones that are formed into an ellipse. The size of the stone’s ranges from 0.5 to 3 meters and can weigh up to 10 tons. It is also called "Armenian Stonehenge". According to researchers, Karahunj could be among the world's oldest astronomical observatories, and is at least 3,500 years older than British Stonehenge.
Lunch will be in the cozy village Yeghegis, where you can have genuine interaction with the locals and enjoy your delicious lunch of local food.
Our next stop is the Jewish Cemetery of Yeghegis is located in the Vayots Dzor province. It belongs to the Jewish community, who lived in Yeghegis in the 13th and 14th centuries. Nearly forty tombstones were preserved in the cemetery. On ten plates there were inscriptions in Hebrew. In the inscriptions there are linguistic realities used during traditional Jewish funerals, biblical works on religious themes, as well as expressions borrowed from the Talmud.
On our way to next destination we will pass by Vardenyats (Selim) Caravanserai - an ancient caravanserai located along Vardenyats pass that was part of the Great Silk Road. The building served as a place where caravans, moved from Europe to the East, stopped for an overnight stay. Historical sources indicate that the construction located on the Vardenyats Pass was erected in 1332, by the order of Duke Chesar Orbelyan. It is known that Marco Polo crossed this area and described how the Armenians lived in impenetrable mountains.
We reach Sevan in Kotayk region, where we are going to spend the overnight.
Accommodation
- Overnight in Sevan on BB/DBL basis. Single room supplement can be provided at additional cost. Request in advance.
Included Activities
- Shaki Waterfall
- Karahunj (Zorats Qarer)
- Jewish cemetery of Yeghegis
- Orbelian Caravanserai (Silk Road)
Meals Included
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Lunch at Yeghegis
- Dinner at the hotel
Important Notes
Today we will be having small hiking and walking in Shaki Waterfall and Karahunj. No special physical readiness is required, being moderately fit is enough. It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes and clothes and have sun protection (caps, sunglasses, sun cream).
09:00 - Breakfast in the hotel
10:00 - Starting the tour
Early in the morning we will start our tour with a visit to Sevanavank Monastery. Enjoy a visit to the picturesque site of monastery, an ancient religious complex that overlooks Lake Sevan. Situated on a peninsula that was once an island before the water level dropped, the monastery stands atop a hill, with scenic views of the lake and the often-snow-capped slopes in the backdrop. You'll need to climb a number of stairs to reach the site, but you'll be rewarded with inspiring panoramic views. Explore the two historic churches, most likely dating from the 9th century and exhibiting a typical, simple Armenian style of architecture.
Not a single visit to Armenia is complete without visiting her majesty Lake Sevan - the highest freshwater mountain lake in Europe, and surrounded by the Lesser Caucasus mountain range. Set 1900m above sea level, Sevan is the largest lake in the Caucasus, it's also one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in the world. Its colors and shades change with the weather and by its own mysterious processes, from a dazzling azure to dark blue and a thousand shades in between.
Our next destination is Tsaghkunq located in small mountain village, to discover something new, to let ourselves be surprised and perhaps to be part of something wonderful. Here you will experience lavash baking masterclass, participate in folkloric songs and performances in one of the rarely preserved lavash baking houses (Glkhatun) from 18th century with unique Armenian architecture. It can be a great experience both for children and adults.
Lunch will be in Tsaghkunk Restaurant where the genuine and authentic Armenian cuisine was influenced by Chef Mads Refslund - a cofounder of the original, wildly influential Noma in Copenhagen and a team of other restaurant geniuses. He immersed himself in learning traditional recipes and meeting purveyors, and then worked with the staff at the Tsaghkunk Restaurant to create and serve a series of unforgettable dishes.
Full of emotions we had back to the Yerevan.
It's time to buy a souvenir. Vernissage - Yerevan’s Flea Market is probably one of the best open-air markets. It is called Vernissage (varnishing, from French) - a term used for a preview of an art exhibition. A visit to the market will make the day more beautiful where you will find everything. It offers various kinds of nice national souvinirs, jewelry and other traditional items.
The Vernissage is the right place to get little taste of Armenia and a special spot to witness the fusion between national traditions and modern taste.
Accommodation
- Overnight in Yerevan at 4* or 5* on BB/DBL basis. Single room supplement can be provided at additional cost. Request in advance.
Included Activities
- Lake Sevan and Sevanavank Monastery
- Tsaghkunq village
- Lavash baking master class
- Folkloric songs and performances
Meals Included
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Lunch in Tsaghkunk
- Farwell dinner in Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel and Departure. See you soon in Armenia. We hope that while looking at Armenia pinned in your travel map, will bring back unforgettable memories and experience during your trip with us!