Armenia

The small country of Armenia is located on the southern slope of the Caucasus Mountain range. The capital of Armenia is Yerevan. There are many interesting sights in the city and its surroundings. Given the small size of the country, many interesting places can be visited from Yerevan, and in the evening, you can return back to the capital. 

Armenia is known for being the first in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion. This happened in 301, two years before the Edict of Milan, when the Roman Emperor Constantine officially allowed the practice of Christianity. In Byzantium, Christianity, as the state religion, was adopted only in 380. 

There are three attractions in Armenia that were included in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Lists in 2000: Echmiadzin Cathedral, Geghard Monastery and the ruins of the ancient Zvartnots Temple. All of them are located in the vicinity of Yerevan. 

History of Armenia 

The formation of statehood in the Armenian Highlands of the Caucasian Mountain Range dates back to the 10th century BC. The Union of Urartu tribes dates back to the 13th century BC, and the state of Urartu was formed in the 10th century BC. At this time, the first states began to appear in the Middle East and Mesopotamia, and in Ancient Greece there was a Trojan War, which more refers to mythology rather than to history. 

In the 4th century BC, Armenia became part of the Empire of Alexander the Great, and then his satrap Seleucus. The Hellenic culture had a great influence on Armenia at this time. In 190, the most outstanding period in the history of Armenia began – the era of Great Armenia. At this time, the kings of the Artashesid dynasty liberated the country from the influence of the Seleucids and annexed the surrounding lands. Later Armenia became part of the Roman Empire and then the Byzantine Empire.   

A new Golden Age in the history of Armenia came in the 9th century AD with the beginning of the rule of the Bagratid dynasty, but subsequently it became increasingly difficult for the Christian state to fight surrounded by Muslim countries. In 1827, Armenia became part of the Russian Empire and an era of stability began in the country.  

History of Christianity in Armenia 

The city of Vagharshapat became the center of Christianity in Armenia as events related to the girl Rapsime and King Trdat III took place here. According to legend, at the same time, a community of 37 Christian girls lived in the vicinity of Rome, among whom was a girl named Rapsime. Their abbess was Saint Gayane.  Rapsime was famous for her extraordinary beauty. When the Emperor Diocletian saw her, he immediately decided to marry her. She did not agree, and all the girls fled from Rome. 

They had a vision of the Virgin Mary, who told them to go to the Ararat Valley. They settled in Armenia near the town of Vagharshapat. However, Diocletian sent a message to his ally King Trdat, demanding to capture the girls and bring them back to Rome. 

When King Trdat III saw Rapsime, he also decided to marry her. But she refused him, too. Then he ordered to kill all the girls. They were stoned to death, and King Trdat fell into madness. His sister said that only Gregory the Illuminator, who by that time had been languishing in prison for 13 years on the site of the Monastery of Khor Virap, could cure him.  

Gregory was brought to the tsar and after prayer Trdat was immediately healed. After that, the tsar decided to make Christianity the state religion. Gregory the Illuminator became the first catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church in 301.  

According to legend, the construction site of the first Christian church in Armenia was indicated by Jesus Christ himself. He appeared with a hammer in his hand in a dream to Gregory the Illuminator and struck the ground where there used to be a pagan temple in Vagharshapat. In the morning, Gregory told King Trdat about this dream, and he ordered the construction of a temple to begin on this site. The word "Etchmiadzin" in Armenian means "the only begotten descended". 

Sights of Armenia 

Most of the sights of Armenia are located in Yerevan and its surroundings. Given the small size of the country, it is most convenient to live in the capital and go on day trips to different regions of the country. The most interesting places in Armenia are Yerevan, Lake Sevan, the balneological resort of Jermuk and Goris.  

You can plan 1-2 days for walking around the center of Yerevan. Start your tour of the capital from Republic Square. If you go north, you can see Abovyan Street, the Cascade Architectural Complex and Victory Park. The observation deck of the Cascade offers a beautiful view of the Old City of Yerevan. To the south of the Republic Square are the Hrazdan River, the Ararat Brandy Winery. 

Geghard Monastery, listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Lists, is located 40 kilometers east of Yerevan. It was founded in the 6th century. On the way to Geghard, visit the ancient Temple of Garni and the Arch of Charents. 

Vagharshapat, the center of Christianity in Armenia, is located 20 kilometers east of Yerevan. It houses the famous Echmiadzin Cathedral and other ancient temples. Between Yerevan and Vagharshapat are the ruins of the ancient Zvartnots temple, and 45 kilometers to the south is the Monastery of Khor Virap. It offers the most beautiful view of Mount Ararat. 

The mountainous Lake Sevan is located 100 kilometers to the east of Yerevan. On its western shore are the most famous Beaches of Sevan. Considering that the country has no access to the sea, people come here for a beach holiday. On the same shore, you can visit the Sevanavank Monastery, as well as the Hayravank Monastery.  

The small town of Jermuk is the most famous balneological resort in Armenia. It is located on a high plateau, at an altitude of 2100 meters above sea level. The Varnis Ridge rises above it from the north, and the Zangezur Ridge rises from the south. This makes the climate of Jermuk comfortable even with the hottest summer months. People come to the Jermuk sanatorium for treatment and spa. Here you can see the Jermuk waterfall (height 68 meters), as well as the Jermuk Geyser.

The farthest tourist center of Armenia is the city of Goris. It is located 240 kilometers south of Yerevan and this is the only place where it is desirable to go for 2-3 days. Here you will see the famous Tatev Monastery, which is located in the Vorotan Gorge. This is a very picturesque mountainous region of Armenia. Near Goris there is a cave settlement Khndzoresk, where houses have been cut down in caves for centuries.