ARTSAKH SHORT TOUR - 5 Days

Arrival in Yerevan. Meet at the airport, transfer to the accommodation. Night walk in Yerevan.

Today we are leaving Yerevan for Stepanakert. Reaching Artaskh region we start our exploration from Dadivank Armenian monastery . It was built between the 9th and 13th century. The monastery was founded by St. Dadi, a disciple of Thaddeus the Apostle who spread Christianity in Eastern Armenia during the first century AD. However, The monastery was first mentioned in the 9th century. In June, 2007, the grave of St. Dadi was discovered under the holy altar of the main church.The princes of Upper Khachen are also buried at Dadivank, under the church’s gavit. Next step is Tigranakaert ruined Armenian city dating back to the Hellenistic period. It is one of several former cities in the Armenian plateau with the same name, named in honor of the Armenian king Tigranes the Great (r. 95–55 B.C.). After Tigranakert we visit Askeran Fortress.

Gandzasar, it is a 10th to 13th century monastery complex.”Gandzasar” means treasure mountain or hilltop treasure in Armenian. The monastery holds relics believed to belong to St. John the Baptist and his father St Zechariah. Gandzasar is now the seat of the Archbishop of Artsakh appointed by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin of the Armenian Apostolic Church. After Gandzasar we are going to see Tnjri tee, it is a 2033 years old, The hollow of the tree is 44 sq.m., where more than 40 people can stand. The area covered by the foliage of the tree is 1400 sq.m. Next step is Amaras Monastery, According to medieval chroniclers Faustus Byuzand and Movses Kaghankatvatsi, St. Gregory the Illuminator founded the Amaras Monastery at the start of the fourth century.Amaras was the burial place of St. Gregory the Illuminator’s grandson, St. Grigoris (died in 338). A tomb built for his remains still survives under the apse of the nineteenth-century church of St. Grigoris.

On the 4th day we visit Shushi town. Here we visit St. Ghazancheots cathedral and Kanach Jam monastery, it is just uphill from the Ghazancheots cathedral. After Shushi tour we go back to Yerevan, During our trip we visit Khndzoresk Caves, Swinging Bridge, Tatev Monasteyr complex.

Vernissage. Transfer to the airport

The Yerevan Vernissage is an open-air exhibition-market functioning on the weekends. It was formed during the 1980s by Armenian artists who started to display their art works in the square next to the Artists Union of Armenia.