Armenia is an Eastern European country with rich historical and cultural connotations. It is also the latest European country to sign mutual visa exemptions with China. Armenia’s tourist attractions include natural landscapes and a large number of cultural and historical buildings that will make your trip more colorful.
On January 19, 2008, the mutual visa exemption agreement between China and Armenia will officially come into effect, and Armenia will become the 15th country to fully exempt visas from China. For many people, this country in Transcaucasus is very mysterious. So, what kind of country is Armenia? Is it fun? How to play? The following words will reveal them one by one for you.
View of Mount Ararat from the capital Yerevan.
An ancient Transcaucasian country with a long history of civilization
The Caucasus is the corridor and crossroads of Eurasia. The area north of the Greater Caucasus Mountains has always been part of the Eurasian steppe, and nomads in turn were the protagonists here. South of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, or Transcaucasus, its history is basically written by Armenia and Georgia. For more than 3,000 years, the Caucasus region, which guards the dividing line between the Eurasian and European continents and blocks the southern passage of the Eurasian steppe like a big cork, has been the stage for historical dramas of invasion and resistance: Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, Persians, Byzantines, Arabs, Mongols, Ottoman Turks, and Russians came in droves.
Religiously, the Christian faith in Transcaucasia is almost submerged in the surrounding countries that believe in Islam: the North Caucasus, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Iran are all Islamic. But Armenia, like Georgia, was the first country in the world to establish Christianity as its state religion, years earlier than Rome. There is also the historic Armenian script. Until modern times, Armenia used the Armenian script created by Mesrop Mashtotz in the 5th century.
In the 5th century, Armenia was annexed by Sasan Persia and subsequently gained autonomy. After that, Byzantium and Seljuk Turkey successively became the suzerainty of Armenia. In 123 AD, the Mongolian generals Sudeten and Jebe invaded and conquered the Caucasus from Arabia, and then crossed the Caucasus Mountains and invaded the Kipchak grassland. In the "Yuan History" year, the Caucasus Mountains had a very Chinese name: "Taihe Ridge". Sultan Zalandin, who had repeatedly won battles with Genghis Khan, also invaded Armenia several times. After the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople in 453, Armenia completely disappeared as a country until the end of World War I nearly 500 years later.
From cultural sites to natural scenery
Anyone arriving by plane in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, will see postcard-like scenery outside the window. ——A snow mountain, Mount Ararat, is covered with ice and snow all year round. It is one of the most famous mountains in the world and certainly one of the highest in religious status. Although adherents of the three major Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) differ on many things, they all believe in the Old Testament account of the year of Genesis where Noah's Ark finally came to rest when God flooded the world. The place is Mount Ararat.
Although Mount Ararat is actually located in Turkey, it adds to the beauty of Yerevan. Armenia is full of surprises with the majesty of the Caucasus Mountains and the historical relics brought about by thousands of years of civilization.
Ebony Castle
This is the place where Yerevan was founded by Argishti I in 782 BC. Today one can visit its remains and walk among the remaining stones and walls. The Cathedral of St. Sarkis was rebuilt from 1835 to 1842 and it serves as the seat of the Armenian Church Jalas as the church's diocese.
The outer wall of the Ekimi Castle
Ekimi Hejin Church
The Ekimi Hejin Church, the oldest cathedral in the world, is located 20 kilometers west of the center of Yerevan. In AD 301, the prophet St. Gregory saw a vision in which Christ descended from heaven and smashed a piece of land with a golden ax, telling him where the first cathedral in Armenia should be built. The Chimiadzin Church, which means "the only begotten Son who came to earth", was built here and has been the main church of the Armenian Apostolic Church ever since.
The church complex and the attached archaeological site of Zvartno also vividly illustrate the development of the Armenian church in the form of the central domed cross and the aisles, which had a profound impact on the architectural and artistic development of the region. In 2000, they were listed as a World Cultural Heritage.
Chimihejin Church
Garde Monastery
It is also one of the world cultural heritage sites. It was originally a natural site near the cave where Gregory relied on where he often prayed. Established by spring water. The monastery we see now was built in the 13th century, and most of the buildings are carved out of rock. This is its biggest feature and represents the pinnacle of Armenian medieval architecture. The church is inlaid with many ancient cross stones and engraved with a large number of reliefs, which are beautiful.
Gerhard Monastery close to the rock.
At the same time, it is also famous for its collection of holy objects, the most famous of which is the spear that pierced Jesus when he was on the cross. It is said that every Armenian makes a pilgrimage to Geghard Monastery at least once in his life. Today, pilgrims still practice the ancient tradition of throwing a pebble on the cliff before setting foot here to ensure that your wishes will come true. Small broken ribbons can also be seen tied to tree branches among the shrubs and trees of the monastery. Each small broken ribbon is left by believers and represents a kind of prayer.
The Abbey of Garde and the Upper Azat Valley
The Abbey of Horwirab
In order to adhere to his faith, Gregory was treated with water, hot cinders Waiting for torture. and was thrown into a dungeon and then into a pit full of dirt and poisonous snakes. In that deep pit, Gregory persisted tenaciously for 14 years. It is said that a widow received a command from God in a dream to throw a loaf of bread into a deep pit for Gregory to eat every day.
Khorwirab Monastery with the majestic Mount Ararat in the background.
In order to commemorate Gregory's painful experience and his unshakable faith, believers built a monastery above the deep well. This monastery facing Mount Ararat was named Khor Virab Monastery. Nowadays, pilgrims still come here to pray for Gregory. They can climb a 25-step ladder into this 5-meter-diameter circular pit and experience what Gregory felt back then.
The Temple of Garni
This is a Greco-Roman building originally dedicated to the Zoroastrian sun god Mithras. There were probably many such temples in this area when Alexander the Great led his armies through here and on to Central Asia and beyond.
The Temple of Garni was severely damaged by the Armenian earthquake, but fortunately the ruins remained intact until archaeologists rediscovered them in 1909. Reconstruction work was completed in 1975.
Restored Greek Temple
Haghpat Monastery and Sanahin Monastery
From the 10th to the 13th century, both monasteries were Important local universities, especially the Sanahin Monastery, are famous for their schools of exegesis and calligraphy. The Hagupat Monastery was built from 967 to 991 by Queen KoSlova Nushosrovnosch, the Abbasid wife at the time, and her two sons Guriegel and Subat. It was continuously expanded in the following three centuries and became the center of Armenian religious art. A model, the church is magnificent and the arcades are elegant. Sanahin Monastery is located on a wooded hillside near the Armenian village of Sanahin and consists of several buildings built in different periods: the larger Amanakitz church and the smaller adjoining Astvasadin church, the Gregorian ring church, the college, the bell tower and the library pavilion. In 1235, due to the invasion of the Mongols, the monastery gradually declined and many buildings were destroyed. Today, both temples are world cultural heritage sites.
Pictures of Hagpat Monastery and Sanakhin Monastery
Lake Sevan
The ancient town of Direzhan where Lake Sevan is located is also known as Little Switzerland , with mountain scenery and forests. And this beautiful scenery is only 60 kilometers away from Yerevan.
Lake Sevan is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world and the largest freshwater lake in the Caucasus. Twenty-eight rivers and streams feed this lake, which is surrounded by snow-capped peaks and the white sandy beaches surrounding the lake make for a perfect postcard scenery. On the lake stands Sevanavank Monastery, which means "Black Monastery" and was built in the 9th century. It is worth mentioning that the water diversion project during the Soviet era in the last century caused the surface of Lake Sevan to dry up. The picturesque Lake Sevan we see now is the result of local government policy revisions and ecological restoration.
Overlooking the lake from Sevanavank Monastery
A ski resort away from the hustle and bustle.
In addition, Armenia is also a ski country thanks to the perfect and pristine natural and climatic conditions of the Transcaucasus Mountains. The Valley of Flowers (Tsakhkadzor, also known as Saked) has a vast snowfield with a total length of 27 kilometers. The altitude of the snowfield can rise from 1966 meters to 2819 meters, and high-quality powder snow falls every year. The snow season can also last from November to April of the following year. This place was originally built to train Soviet athletes to participate in the Winter Olympics (1988) and has complete facilities.
Armenia in winter is also worth visiting.
The Sevan Snowfield is located in the only place where Lake Sevan passes. Although there are few snow trails, the view is quite broad. Its ski season can be from the end of November to the beginning of June. Mount Aragats near Lake Sevan stands 40 kilometers northwest of Yerevan, with an average altitude of 4,000 meters. The peak area accounts for almost 1/5 of Armenia's land. It is also a ski resort for locals.