Wondering what there is to do in Armenia? How about a trip to Trip Advisor’s top-rated
Armenian attraction? Situated in a
backdrop of immense natural beauty at the entrance to the Azat Valley, in the
Kotayk province of Armenia, The Monastery of Geghard (or fully Geghardavank) is
a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an amazing, extremely well-preserved example
of ‘medieval Armenian monastic
architecture’. A series of churches
and tombs, it is deemed to be particularly exceptional because it is partially
carved out of the adjoining rock and surrounded by immense cliffs.
 |
| The Monastery of Geghard |
The Original
Structure
Originally, the monastery was known as Ayrivank (translated as
‘Monastery of the Cave’) because, when founded in the 4th Century AD
by Gregory the Illuminator, it was at the site of a pre-Christian hallowed
spring inside a cave. Ayrivank Monastery
apparently comprised of religious buildings alongside well-equipped
accommodation and service installations but, unfortunately, nothing from the
initial structures have survived to the present day – it was severely damaged
by earthquakes, as well as being ransacked and the structures burnt down by the
Arabs in the 10th Century.
Brief History of the
Present Structure
Now,I don’t want to give you too much information, otherwise
you’ll have no incentive to visit. So,
the following is merely a taster: Inscriptions in parts of the monastery have
been dated back to the 1160s. However,
the main church in the monastery dates back to 1215 and was built under the
patronage of the two brothers, who were generals of Queen Tamar of Georgia
(credited with taking the majority of Armenia back from the Turks). It was named Geghard (or Geghardavank)
meaning ‘Monastery of the Spear’ after the spear brought to Armenia by the
Apostle Jude (known as Thaddeus in Armenia), which is purported to have wounded
Jesus at the crucifixion. This spear
made the monastery a popular place for pilgrimages by Armenian Christians over
the centuries and it is also the only relic or work of art, housed here, to
have survived over the centuries. It is
now housed at Echmiadzin Monastery in a special gilded silver case that was
made for it in 1687.
The Complex Today
The complex consists of: The Katoghike Chapel (the main
church), The Vestry (or gavit), Rock Cut Church with Spring, The Zhamatun, Rock
Cut Church past The Zhamatun, Upper Jhamatun and The Chapel of Saint Gregor
(the Illuminator). You can reach the complex
via a paved road, which leads to a parking lot.
From there, you must walk up to the monastery and this is one of the
most fascinating and vibrant experiences whilst visiting this structure, for
the path is lined with women attempting to sell you their delicious,
traditional Armenian delicacies and a group of musicians, who play for
money. All of this before you have even
entered the complex and had the pleasure of soaking up its history and culture.
Trip Advisor Ratings
and Testimonials
As previously mentioned, The Geghard Monastery is ranked first out of 28 Armenian tourist attractions on Trip Adviser, with 211 out of 248
independent reviewers giving it 5 out of 5 and 34 more giving it 4 stars out of
5. Some of the guests said the
following:
‘Very authentic...’
‘Amazing atmosphere...’
‘Fascinating cave monastery...’
‘The pearl of Armenia...’
‘Unexpected miracle...’
Ultimately, this seems as if it is a ‘can’t miss’
destination whilst visiting Armenia.
No comments:
Post a Comment