From Yerevan: Half Day Tour To Garni Pagan Temple And Geghard Monastery

This half-day tour will take to discover 2 highlights of Armenian historical-cultural sites, situated 40 kms from Yerevan: Parni pagan temple and Geghard monastery.

Geghard Monastery located in Azat Valley surrounded by towering cliffs. Part of the monastery is carved out of the adjacent mountain. According to tradition, the Geghard Monastery was founded in the 4th century AD by St. Gregory the Illuminator. The site where St. Gregory chose to build the monastery was a spring arising in a cave. Geghard Monastery was known as Ayvirank (meaning ‘Monastery of the Cave’) in earlier times.

The actual monastery was bought by the princes of the Proshyan dynasty. Under the patronage of this Armenian noble family, the monastery was further developed. Over a short period of time numerous monastic cells were also built near the monastery. The Proshyan family symbol can be found carved on the rock inside the monastery: two chained lions, between which is an eagle with half-spread wings, whose claws grasp a calf.

Garni pagan temple situated in the village of the same name in Kotayk Region. The temple was built in 1st B.C. It reflects elements of Roman-Hellenistic and Armenian national culture, which is an evidence of antique influences and traditions of the Armenian people.

The settlement has an ancient history, and is best known for the Hellenistic Garni temple. The temple of Garni was dedicated to the sun goddess Mythra.

Garni was designed according to the sacred geometry of the day. It is is in perfect harmony with the surrounding nature in a picturesque mountain locality and commands a broad panorama of orchards, fields and mountain slopes.

Garni served as the summer residence of Armenian kings. The palace complex included several buildings like the temple, a residential block, a bath-house etc. It is the only pagan temple preserved in the region until nowadays. The temple itself was destroyed be an earthquake in the 17th century and was renovated in Soviet times.