A Renewal of Faith Pilgrimage to Armenia

A Renewal of Faith Pilgrimage to Armenia
on the Occasion of
The Blessing of the Holy Chrism (Muron)
at the Holy Etchmiadzin on September 28, 2008
September 18, 2008 – October 2, 2008
Trip Highlights:
The Blessing of the Holy Chrism
Private Audience with the Catholicos Karekin II
Private Tour of Holy Etchmiadzin
Tours of Historic Churches and Monasteries
Karabagh Excursion
Vesper Services
Faith Renewal Seminar
Organized by:
The Western Diocese of the Armenian Church
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate
Tour Arrangements by Levon Travel
For Information and Reservations:
Please Call the Diocesan Office at (818) 558‐7474
www.armenianchurchwd.com/renewfaith2008/
A Renewal of Faith Pilgrimage to Armenia
Itinerary
Thursday, September 18, 2008 – Travel Day
Friday, September 19, 2008 – Day 1 Arrival in Yerevan
Airport meeting and greeting with an Englishspeaking guide. Transfer to hotel.
Saturday, September 20, 2008 – Day 2 Yerevan
Breakfast at hotel. Yerevan City tour:
Yerevan is the capital of Armenia and one of the oldest cities in the world. It stretches under the gaze of biblical mountain Ararat and resembles a beautiful gilt bowl to those flying over it. A basalt slab with an Urartu cuneiform inscription, unearthed by archaeologists in the south‐eastern part of the city shows the age of Yerevan to be 2783 years old. Modern Yerevan is mostly a rebuilt colorful city with buildings of unique architecture, constructed from basalt, marble, onyx and volcanic tufa stone.
Yerevan -- Cascade
“Mayr‐Hayastan” (panoramic view of Yerevan), Matenadaran (Depository and Museum of Ancient Manuscripts):
The Matenadaran is one of the oldest and richest book‐
depositories in the world. Its collection of about 17,000 manuscripts includes almost all of the areas of ancient and medieval Armenian culture and sciences – history, geography, grammar, philosophy, law, medicine, mathematics, cosmography, theory of calendar, alchemy, chemistry, translations, literature, chronology, art history, miniature, music and theatre.
Yerevan – Skyline &
St. Gregory Cathedral
Street tour including Republic Square, Yerevan State University, Victory Bridge, Tsitsernakaberd (1915 Genocide Memorial), Sports & Concerts complex, Kiev Bridge, Parliament, Palace of President, Academy of Sciences, Opera house. State Museum of History of Armenia:
The Museum was founded in 1919 by governmental decree of the First Republic of Armenia. The doors first opened to visitors in 1921. It is one of the world's Yerevan – Mayr Hayastan
greatest repositories of Armenian art. Its vast collections, comprising about 400,000 items, represent Armenia's culture from the past to the present day. The famous personalities of Armenian science and culture contributed much in founding the Museum and in compiling the first collections for the Museum. Evening free. Overnight in Yerevan.
Sunday, September 21, 2008 – Day 3 Independence Day
Yerevan – St. Gregory
Cathedral
Breakfast at hotel. Tour to Sardarapat. Memorial and Museum of the historical battle at Sardarapat in 1918. Lunch during tour. Return to Yerevan. Independence Day celebrations (free agenda).
Overnight in Yerevan.
Yerevan – Genocide
Memorial
Monday, September 22, 2008 – Day 4 Gyumri & Ani Ruins
Breakfast at hotel. Tour to Anipemza. Visit to the border site to see the ruins of Ani from the Armenian bank of Akhurian River. Picnic Lunch during tour.
Visit Talin. Talin is one of the oldest cities in Armenia; established around 2000 B.C. The St. Kathogike cathedral is a historical site.
Sardarapat
Vesper Service at St. Kathogike cathedral.
Return to Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 – Day 5 Dilijan, Haghartsin, Lake Sevan & Seminary
Breakfast at hotel. Yerevan – St. Gregory
Cathedral
Trip to Dilijan spa and Haghartsin Monastery Complex.
This Monastery is hidden from the tumult of the world. The monastery is built by the architect Minas in 1248 with lavish decorations of carved stone.
The main church is typical of the churches built between the 10th and 13th centuries. The oldest church in the complex is with the cross‐winged dome named after St. Gregory. The refectory of Haghartsin is also very unique in character. There is a number of very interesting khachkars (cross‐stones) in the complex. The monastery itself is situated within an oak forest, in the gorge of a small river. Haghartsin
Trip to Sevan Lake ‐ Pearl of Armenia. Peninsula and churches of Sevan. Sevan, this wonder of nature, is 60 Km from Yerevan on a highway which cuts northward through mountains and rocks. Sevan is so austere and majestic that the gentle turquoise waters are astonishing. They fill the gigantic depression situated at the height of almost 2000 m above sea level. Sevan, with its pure air and sandy beaches, is a popular holiday resort. Sevan has always been famous for its fish "Ishkhan" which means "prince‐
fish" in Armenian. Lake Sevan
One of the most interesting sites in Sevan is the monastery on the rocky peninsula founded in 874 AD by King Ashot I and his daughter Mariam. Other monuments include Sevan Monastery (874) and Astvatsatsin Church. Pay Lunch during tour in Dilijan & Sevan.
Visit Vazgenian Seminary in Sevan. Faith Renewal Seminar at the Vazgenian Seminary. The presentations will include: Armenian Church History; Muron Blessing –
Biblical background and Application in the Armenian Church; and Saving Faith and Implications in Our Christian Living.
Evening free. Overnight in Yerevan.
Sevan – Vazgenian
Seminary
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 – Day 6 Khor Virap, Noravank, and Karabagh
For those staying in Yerevan – FREE DAY.
Breakfast at hotel and CHECK‐OUT. Khor Virap Monastery: Khor Virap is a place of pilgrimage for Armenians all over the world. According to history annals, Armenian pagan king Trdat imprisoned Saint Gregory the Illuminator in a cave which became known as Khor Virap. Khor Virap & Mt.
Ararat
From here one can enjoy the majestic view of Mount Ararat (where Noah’s ark landed according to the Bible), not too far from the Arax river. Khor Virap is the closest point to Mount Ararat from the territory of Armenia, the most convenient place for observing and taking pictures of the biblical mountain.
Noravank Monastery Complex.
Noravank monastery is considered to be the pulpit of Syunik bishops. The main church of St. Karapet was built in 1227. The reliefs on the entrance tympanum and the windows on the western facade are very interesting from an architectural point of view. To the south of the complex one can see a two‐storied sepulchre church built in 1339. This tomb monument can be traced to the 4th or 5th centuries. To the right of the entrance of the tympanum, one can find recently discovered stalactite caves. The monastery had been completely reconstructed and reopened in 1999. Khor Virap Pit
Proceed to Karabakh via Goris town. Arrive at Stepanakert. Hotel accommodation. Dinner and overnight in Stepanakert.
Thursday, September 25, 2008 – Day 7 Stepanakert, Gandzasar, and Nikol Douman
For those staying in Yerevan – FREE DAY.
Breakfast at hotel. Stepanakert city tour. Gandzasar Monastery Complex and Vank village. Nigol Douman ethnographic Museum. Lunch during tour. Dinner and overnight in Stepanakert.
Noravank
Friday, September 26, 2008 – Day 8 Shoushi, Jermuk, and Areni Village
For those staying in Yerevan – FREE DAY.
Breakfast at hotel. CHECK‐OUT after breakfast. Drive back to Yerevan. En route – Shouhsi medieval capital. Visit Jermuk and Areni Village.
Arrival in Yerevan. Hotel accommodation. Overnight in Yerevan.
Saturday, September 27, 2008 – Day 9 Aragats, Sagmosavank, Hamberd, and Astarak
Breakfast at hotel. Drive north to Aragats Mountain:
On the Way to Hamberd
Stone Carved Alphabet
Aragats mountain is shaped like an oval shield. A circle of four peaks rises in the middle of the shield. The highest of them has an elevation of 4090 meters. The others are only a few meters lower. This circle of mountains is the remains of a crater from a big volcano. The Stone Lake with the Cosmic Rays’ Scientific Research Centre is situated on the mountain of Aragats.
Hamberd Fortress and Church of Pahlavouni Princes:
Hamberd fortress stands at an elevation of 2300 meters above sea level on the high cape, in the canyon of two rivers high upon the southern slope of Mount Aragats. It is considered to be the only preserved monument of secular type on the territory of Armenia. Hamberd Church
The fortress, founded in the 7th century by Pahlavouni princes, had its own water‐supply pipe which channels springs from the Aragats Mountain. The church inside the fortress was built in 1026. The church itself, the palace bathhouse with two domes, a floor heating system and a secret passage to the gorge are considered to be the most well‐preserved monuments of Hamberd. In the 13th century Hamberd fortress was destroyed and set on fire by Mongolian invaders.
Proceed to Saghmoasavan Village. Monastery Complex of Saghmosavank (Psalm Church). Proceed to Astarak.
Return to Yerevan. Evening free.
Sunday, September 28, 2008 – Day 10 Blessing of Holy Chrism in Etchmiadzin
Tour to St. Echmiadzin (Cathedral) for the Chrism‐
blessing ceremonies.
Drive back to Yerevan. Evening free.
Monday, September 29, 2008 – Day 11 Alaverdi, Haghbat, and Sanahin
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to North Armenia. Alaverdi town is famous for its copper mines. Monastery Complex of Haghpat (UNESCO World Heritage):
The construction of this monastery is associated to the glory of the Bagratouni Royal Family. The oldest structure of the monastery was built in 977‐991 and was called the Holy Cross church. Holy water fills the small pool in the church. Believers say this water has curative qualities for people with poor health. Many cross‐stones are built on the ground of the churches. A three‐storied bell tower built in 1245 is part of the complex.
Holy Chrism (Muiron)
Gatsa
Proceed to Sanahin Monastery.
Sanahin is a monastery complex the most prominent structure of which is the Savor's Church (956‐967), built by architect Trdat for princes Gourgen and Smbat from the Kyurikian Kingdom. The eastern part of the church holds a bas‐relief depicting the two princes holding the miniature copy of the actual church. The former village of Sanahin is located on the right side of the gorge. It has become a part of the town of Alaverdi. An interesting point is the Academy dating back to 1063, where famous scientist, philosopher and writer Grigor Magistros‐Savor lectured. Return to Yerevan. Diocese of Gukark
Evening free.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 – Day 12 St. Hripsime, Holy Etchmiadzin, Etchmiadzin Museum, Visit with Vehapar, and Zvartnots
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to St. Echmiadzin (Holy See). En route – Hripsime Church:
This is a masterpiece of architecture and a marvelous example of cross‐cupola architecture of the 7th century. Weddings and baptisms are performed here on Saturdays and Sundays. Remnants of very old constructions were discovered under the church in 1959 while the church was being restored. Virgin's tomb lies here in the crypt of the church.
Cathedral of St. Echmiadzin (UNESCO World Heritage). The Cathedral of St. Etchmiadzin is one of the first churches in the Christian World. Holy Mass takes place on Sundays. It is an architectural monument of early Christianity.
St. Mesrob Mashtots
Tomb
It houses a unique museum of religious artifacts. There is a small altar in the centre of the Cathedral where Christ descended from Heaven and with a golden hammer pointed to the site upon which the Cathedral was to be built. The remnants of a pagan temple have been discovered during excavations made inside the Cathedral.
Private Tour of the Etchmiadzin Museum and Visit with His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
Holy Etchmiadzin
Return to Yerevan. En route – Zvartnots temple (UNESCO World Heritage):
Zvartnots, built as Armenia's main cathedral in 641‐661. It had a unique grandeur and extraordinary artistic splendor. The cathedral consisted of three polyhedrons with rich ornamentation of outer walls. Zvartnots collapsed as the result of an earthquake in 930 and was never restored. A few years ago the columns of the first floor were restored. The international airport Zvartnots is only a few kilometres from the area where the "angels have fallen down."
His Holiness Karekin II
Return to Yerevan. Evening free or optional Cultural event. Wednesday, October 1, 2008 – Day 13 Yerevan
Breakfast at hotel.
Free Day.
Thursday, October 2, 2008 – Day 14
Transfer to Zvartnots Airport.
Departure to USA.
Golden Cross
Etchmiadzin Musem