Pilgrimage tour to Armenia

Meeting at the airport. Transfer to the hotel. Tour of Yerevan: Matenadaran Research Center, the largest repository in the world, where there are more than 17 thousand ancient manuscripts. Visit to the Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex, dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Armenian Genocide Museum. Church of Gregory the Illuminator, which is the largest Armenian cathedral in Yerevan. Lunch at a restaurant with national dishes. On the left bank of the Hrazdan River is the vicarial Church of St. Sarkis, built in the 19th century. Since the times of early Christianity, there was a monastery-anapat (monastery) here, but it was destroyed during an earthquake in the 17th century. Rest. Welcome dinner in a restaurant with folklore program. Evening walking tour in the center of Yerevan: Cascade, Opera, Northern Avenue, Republican Square.

Etchmiadzin Cathedral is one of the oldest Christian churches in the world. The Treasury of Etchmiadzin, where the Holy Spear that pierced Christ, a piece of Noah’s Ark, is kept. Visit to the Church of St. Gayane, St. Hripsime and St. Shoghakat. According to legend, these temples were built in honor of the first Christian martyrs - those who fled from the persecution of the Roman emperor. The churches were built on the sites of the death of the three holy virgins, where their relics are also kept. The temples of St. Hripsime and St. Guyana were erected in the 7th century and are a masterpiece of the early Christian period. The Church of St. Shoghakat, built in the 17th century on the site of a 4th century chapel: beautiful in its simplicity and austere interior. All churches are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visit to the ruins of the Zvartnots temple (7th century), which was considered one of the tallest buildings of its time (49m). The temple is unique in its architecture and is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Lunch at a restaurant in Yerevan. Visit to the Ararat Brandy Factory for a tour and tasting. Rest. Free evening.

Visit to the Harichavank monastery complex, built between the 7th and 13th centuries. One of its features is that it was built from huge stones of various colors in a checkerboard pattern, which is a kind of decoration for the monastery. Since the 19th century, the church has been the summer residence of Armenian Catholicoses. Village of Azatan, community of Armenian Catholics. The three-nave basilica of Yereruyk, built in the 5th century, was one of the earliest Christian buildings in Armenia. Visit to the Marmashen monastery (X-XI centuries), which was one of the largest cultural and religious centers of medieval Armenia. Dinner. Arrival in Gyumri – the second largest city in Armenia. A short excursion around the center of Gyumri: Amenaprkich Church (19th century), Church of the Holy Mother of God, the only Armenian church with an iconostasis and five altars for various religious communities, Vardanants Square, Masters Street. Dinner and overnight in the city of Gyumri.

Early in the morning we will visit the medieval Armenian monastery of Kobayr, built in the 12th century. In the 13th century it was an important spiritual and cultural center of medieval Armenia. Odzun, built in the 5th century, is one of the rare early medieval buildings. The church is located on the edge of the beautiful Debed gorge. Next we head to Akhtala, a 10th century monastery and fortress, surrounded on three sides by deep rocky canyons. Akhtala is unique with its amazing frescoes created by the traditions of Armenian, Byzantine and Georgian painting. Visit to the monastery complex of Haghpat (10th century), included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. On the territory of the monastery there is one of the amazing khachkars (cross-stones) of the 13th century - the All-Savior Khachkar. Overnight at a guest house in Haghpat.

Departure from Haghpat. On the way to Dilijan we will visit the village of Fioletovo - a community of Russian Molokans. Molokans are a distinct ethnographic group of Russians that separated from the Russian Orthodox Church in the 16th century. In the 19th century the Molokans fleeing oppression, they began to move to the outskirts of the empire, in particular to Armenia and Ukraine. They still maintain their faith and traditions. Arrival in the resort town of Dilijan, Old Dilijan complex. Visit to the Haghartsin Monastery, located in the wooded valley of the Ijevan ridge. The Goshavank monastery complex (XII-XIII centuries) is one of the largest cultural, educational and religious centers of medieval Armenia. In the monastery there is a khachkar made by master Poghos, which occupies a special place in the art of making khachkars. Tour to Lake Sevan - the largest of the Caucasus lakes and located at an altitude of 1900 meters. On the Sevan Peninsula we will visit the Sevanavank Monastery, which offers a wonderful view of Lake Sevan. Visit to the Hayravank monastery (9th century), on the territory of which many gravestones and khachkars of the 6th century have been preserved. Noratus is a unique open-air museum with a unique collection of khachkars. Arrival and rest at the hotel and entertainment complex Germon.

In the southern part of Armenia we will visit the Noravank monastery complex, which is unique for its architecture and bas-reliefs. Near the canyon there is a cave of Birds, where the world's oldest leather shoe and a winery were recently found. Tasting of local wine in the Areni cellar. Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the Tatev monastery complex by the longest cable car in the world. Tatev is considered a masterpiece of medieval architecture and was one of the important spiritual and educational centers of Armenia. Return to Yerevan.

Departure from Yerevan. Tour to the Geghard rock monastery. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is unique in that part of it is carved into the rocks. At the end of the 13th century, the monastery was a place of pilgrimage, as it housed the Holy Lance, which pierced the crucified Christ. Visit to the pagan temple of Garni - the only monument preserved on the territory of Armenia dating back to the era of paganism. The Garni complex includes fortress walls, a 1st century temple, a summer palace and Roman baths (III century). Lunch in the village of Garni in a rural house, participation in the baking of Armenian lavash bread. Live performance of duduk (on request). Arrival in Yerevan.

Vernissage, where you can buy souvenirs from Armenia. Locally prepared sweets and dried fruits market. Airport transfer.