| Duration: | 4 Day(s) - 3 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Pilgrimage Tours |
Come to feel the mystery of the Biblical Mount Ararat...
Day 1: Arrival
Day 2: Yerevan / Khor Virap / Noravank / Yerevan
As the first Christian nation, Armenia is home to countless ancient churches and monasteries. Visit Khor-Virap monastery 4- 17th as it’s an important Christian site and the closest point to biblical Mt. Ararat. If you are lucky you and the weather is fine you will enjoy the beautiful landscape opening from the church and feel the mystery of the Biblical Mount Ararat...
Visit Noravank Monastery - passing a narrow road surrounded by rocks of hundred caves one discovers a scene of harmony of architecture with nature. The monastery enshrined with fine architectural solutions and luxurious embellishments is one of the brightest examples of Armenian architecture of the 13th century.
Day 3: Departure
Transfer to the airport. Departure home.
For prices please contact us.
Know More About Noravank Monastery:
Noravank is a 13th-century Armenian monastery, located 122 km from Yerevan in a narrow gorge made by the Amaghu River, near the town of Yeghegnadzor, Armenia. The gorge is known for its tall, sheer, brick-red cliffs, directly across from the monastery. The monastery is best known for its two-storey Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) church, which grants access to the second floor by way of a narrow stone-made staircase jutting out from the face of the building, one of the earliest examples of cantilever architecture.
The monastery is sometimes called Noravank at Amaghu, with Amaghu being the name of a small and nowadays abandoned village above the canyon, in order to distinguish it from Bgheno-Noravank, near Goris. In the 13th–14th centuries, the monastery became a residence of Syunik's bishops and, consequently, a major religious and, later, cultural center of Armenia closely connected with many of the local seats of learning, especially with Gladzor's famed university and library.
In 1216-1223 the first church at the monastery was built and named Surb Karapet Church (St. John the Baptist). The temple is distinguished by strict decorative ornamentation. Inside it are deep niches with khachkars. The sculptor of Noravank became famous for his depictions of the saints in strikingly human poses, including Jesus, Adam, and even God. A small corner shows samples of typical designs so that students could study them.
In 1275, the modest rectangular Surb Grigor Church, which became the tomb of prince Smbat Orbelyan, was added to the northern side of the main temple. Its walls from both sides of the altar are decorated with khachkars and images of doves.
The most magnificent building of the monastery is the two-storey St. Astvatsatsin Church, constructed in 1339 by Prince Burtel Orbelyan. The building is a classic architectural monument. The rectangular church rests upon a powerful high foundation, which gives it a majestic and monumental air.
In 2002 the Noravank Monastery was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites List.
