The word "Geghard" in translation from Armenian means "spearhead". This monastery kept the tip of the spear with which the Roman legionary Longinus pierced the body of the crucified Christ. Currently, this shrine is kept in the museum of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Etchmiadzin.
Chapel of St. Gregory the Illuminator is located quite high above the road, a hundred meters from the entrance to the monastery. Partially it was carved into the rock; small fragments of dark-colored frescoes, khachkars with various ornaments have been preserved in it.
In few churches in Armenia one can find such a rich sculptural decoration: floral and geometric ornamentation is abundantly combined with three-dimensional images of animals. No less attractive are the reliefs carved under the dome with images of the heads of animals, birds, human figures, various geometric figures, forming a kind of sculptural frieze.
These masterpieces of underground architecture brought Geghard well-deserved fame.
From Yerevan you can take a minibus to the village of Garni, and then you need to take a taxi to Geghard (the price is about 1000-1500 Armenian drams). Or you can walk 7 km uphill on an asphalt highway. For tourists - lovers of extreme sports, there is the most picturesque, but also the most difficult path, with several fording crossings through a shallow, but fast river. They will need to climb from the village of Garni along the gorge of the Azat River for about 8 km.
The tomb of the son of Prince Prosh - Papak and his wife - Ruzukan in the second tier, north of the tomb of the princes Proshyans. It can be reached by a steep outer staircase and a narrow corridor in the rock. Numerous crosses are carved on the southern side of this rock. They are also called khachkars - traditional Armenian stone commemorative steles with crosses.
More than twenty rooms of various shapes and sizes have been carved into the rocks.
They are on different levels. Some of them are intended for household needs. And the eastern rooms are small rectangular chapels.
The whole complex is really very impressive - ancient structures, half carved into caves and rocks - look so majestic that it seems it was created by nature, and not by human hands.
Tours to Armenia - Travel Agency "Hot Line", www. hot. com. ua +38(044)599-46-30, +38(050)346-4599, +38(067)462-9242
Chapel of St. Gregory the Illuminator is located quite high above the road, a hundred meters from the entrance to the monastery. Partially it was carved into the rock; small fragments of dark-colored frescoes, khachkars with various ornaments have been preserved in it.
In few churches in Armenia one can find such a rich sculptural decoration: floral and geometric ornamentation is abundantly combined with three-dimensional images of animals. No less attractive are the reliefs carved under the dome with images of the heads of animals, birds, human figures, various geometric figures, forming a kind of sculptural frieze.
These masterpieces of underground architecture brought Geghard well-deserved fame.
From Yerevan you can take a minibus to the village of Garni, and then you need to take a taxi to Geghard (the price is about 1000-1500 Armenian drams). Or you can walk 7 km uphill on an asphalt highway. For tourists - lovers of extreme sports, there is the most picturesque, but also the most difficult path, with several fording crossings through a shallow, but fast river. They will need to climb from the village of Garni along the gorge of the Azat River for about 8 km.
The tomb of the son of Prince Prosh - Papak and his wife - Ruzukan in the second tier, north of the tomb of the princes Proshyans. It can be reached by a steep outer staircase and a narrow corridor in the rock. Numerous crosses are carved on the southern side of this rock. They are also called khachkars - traditional Armenian stone commemorative steles with crosses.
More than twenty rooms of various shapes and sizes have been carved into the rocks.
They are on different levels. Some of them are intended for household needs. And the eastern rooms are small rectangular chapels.
The whole complex is really very impressive - ancient structures, half carved into caves and rocks - look so majestic that it seems it was created by nature, and not by human hands.
Tours to Armenia - Travel Agency "Hot Line", www. hot. com. ua +38(044)599-46-30, +38(050)346-4599, +38(067)462-9242
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
Comments (0)
leave a comment
Show other comments …
