Brochure

Pilgrimage
to
Enchanting
armenia
8
DAYS
Saturday 23rd to Saturday 30th September 2017
Led by Canon Gordon Dey
Pilgrimage
Heathrow
Yerevan
Pilgrimage
DAY ONE –
Yerevan
City
DAY SEVEN -
Saturday 23rd September
Flight to Yerevan
Assemble at Heathrow airport and check-in
for the flight to Yerevan.
DAY TWO -
Sunday 24th September
Flight arrival
Arrive in the early hours and travel by private
coach to the hotel for room allocation.
Yerevan, the Capital Late breakfast and an Orientation of the
city‛s highlights by coach and visits to;
Mother Armenia A 22 metres female statue with commanding
view of the city symbolising peace through
strength commemorating prominent female
figures in Armenian history.
The Cascade An impressive stairway linking the lower
city with the mountain-top monuments with
multiple levels, fountains and sculptures. The
stairs afford walkers unobstructed views of
central Yerevan and Mount Ararat.
Genocide memorial Set on one of three hills along the Hrazdan
River and visited regularly by Heads of State.
Erebuni Fortress In the city suburbs and one of several
fortresses built along the northern Urartian
border
Evening Worship –
Anglican Worship at 6 pm at the ancient
Armenian Church of Surb Zorovar.
Evening Fellowship:
After dinner meet with Revd John Barker the
Anglican Chaplain of Armenia.
Dinner & Overnight in Yerevan
Yerevan
Cathedral
Mother Armenia
Friday 29th September
Zvartnots Cathedral A morning short drive west of the city to this
Byzantine Cathedral consecrated in 652 AD
and set in the backdrop of Mount Ararat.
Yerevan Cathedral Is currently the largest cathedral of the
Armenian Apostolic Church in the world.
Free Time Shopping opportunity - or a visit to ‘Lovers
Park‛ – or visits to Matanadaren Manuscript
Museum, and/or Yerevan History Museum.
Dinner & Overnight in Yerevan
DAY EIGHT -
Saturday 30th September
Return flight -
Early breakfast and by coach to the airport for the return flight to Heathrow.
The Casscade
Typical Flights
Currently there are no direct flights from the UK to Yerevan, but there are a number of dual flight
options from Heathrow. However direct fights by airlines are being reviewed. We will determine the
best option nearer the time of the departure and also be look out for a northern airport option.
OUTWARD
Heathrow/Yerevan
Depart 19.25
Arrive 03.35 (next day)
OUTWARD
Heathrow/Yerevan
Depart
04.25
Arrive
08.20
Hotel Accommodation
Genocide Memorial
Surb Zoravor Church
YEREVAN/Diamond House/6 nights
DILIJAN/Best Western/1 night
Pilgrimage
DAY SIX -
Dilijan
Yerevan
Thursday 28th September
Dilijan
Enjoy an orientation of the cultural city of
Dilijan.
Dilijan National Park Explore one of the 4 protected national parks
of the Republic of Armenia known for its forest
landscapes, rich biodiversity, medicinal mineral
water springs, natural and cultural monuments
including the 10th and 13th century monasteries
of Haghartsin and Goshavank serving as cultural
and educational centres.
Vanadzor/Spitak Vanadzor was settled in the bronze age and
today, the city is in a picturesque setting with
an attractive planned town centre. Spitak was
entirely destroyed during the devastating 1988
earthquake, and subsequently rebuilt in a slightly
different location.
Both locations afford impressive views of Mt
Aragats some 13,420 feet above sea level.
Yerevan Returning to the capital, stop at the Armenian
alphabet ‘Letter Park‛ then to the 7th century
Amberd fortress on Mount Aragats slopes
Dinner & Overnight in Yerevan
Dilijan
Pilgrimage
Eastern
Regions
Garni Temple
DAY THREE -
Monday 25th September
Echmiadzin –
By coach to Armenia‛s spiritual capital to visit
the Cathedral and museum - a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. As the main shrine of Christian
Armenians worldwide it is considered one of the
most important sites in the country.
Garni Temple –
Travel to the east of Yerevan to explore Garni
Temple, Royal Palace and Bathhouse, probably
the best-known structure and symbol of preChristian Armenia and the only known GrecoRoman colonnaded building in Armenia.
Geghard cave monastery –
A 4th Century complex carved out of the rockface located in a beautiful mountain setting
by the Azat River gorge. Founded in the 4th
century by Gregory the Illuminator the site
contains a sacred spring inside a cave and is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Dinner & Overnight in Yerevan
Echmiadzin Cathedral
Vanadzor
Pilgrimage
DAY FOUR -
Southern
Regions
Tuesday 26th September
Khor Virap Monastery The monastery is surrounded by green pasture
lands and vineyards within the Ararat plain and in
ancient times used as a Royal Prison.
St Gregory‛s pit marks the spot where he was
held for 13 years on the orders of the pagan
king Tiridates. His survival is attributed to a
local Christian widow who, influenced by a dream
vision, regularly fed Gregory by dropping a loaf of
freshly baked bread into the pit.
Mount Ararat
Stop for a stunning view of this 16,137 feet
majestic biblical mountain where scripture
locates the resting place of Noah‛s Ark. Thus it is
considered a sacred mountain by Armenians and
is depicted on the coat of arms of Armenia. Mt
Ararat and the rest of Western Armenia are now
part of Eastern Turkey.
Noravank Monastery South into the mountains to this ancient Christian
site in its extraordinary landscape setting. The
13th century monastery by a gorge is known for
its tall, sheer, brick-red cliffs. It is best known
for its two-storey Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy
Mother of God) church, and unique carvings
including a sculpture over the entrance, depicting
Christ flanked by Peter and Paul.
Evening –
Fellowship with a group of local Christian
Armenians.
Dinner & Overnight in Yerevan
Khor Virap
Pilgrimage
Northern
Regions
DAY FIVE -
Wednesday 27th September
Noratus Khachkar Cemetery Containing a large number of early ‘khachkars‛
- a carved, memorial stele bearing a cross, and
often with additional motifs.
A prominent grave is that of a 19th-century
monk who suggested that people who had fear
should pour water at his burial stone and today,
scattered broken pieces of glass indicate that
the practice is still active.
Lake Sevan –
A sail for around an hour on this beautiful lake The largest body of water in Armenia and
the Caucasus region and one of the largest
freshwater high-altitude lakes in Eurasia
supplying 90% of the fish and 80% of the
crayfish catch of Armenia.
Noratus Khachkar
Lake Sevan
Sevan and Sevanavank Monastic Complex Set on a peninsula at the north-western shore
of Lake Sevan it once was very strict as it
was mainly intended for those monks from
Etchmiadzin who had sinned. An 1850 explorer
recorded that manuscripts were still being
copied manually here.
Dilijan Continue north to the hotel.
Dinner & Overnight in Dilijan
Sevanavank
Sevan Region
Noravank Monastery
Pilgrimage
DAY FOUR -
Southern
Regions
Tuesday 26th September
Khor Virap Monastery The monastery is surrounded by green pasture
lands and vineyards within the Ararat plain and in
ancient times used as a Royal Prison.
St Gregory‛s pit marks the spot where he was
held for 13 years on the orders of the pagan
king Tiridates. His survival is attributed to a
local Christian widow who, influenced by a dream
vision, regularly fed Gregory by dropping a loaf of
freshly baked bread into the pit.
Mount Ararat
Stop for a stunning view of this 16,137 feet
majestic biblical mountain where scripture
locates the resting place of Noah‛s Ark. Thus it is
considered a sacred mountain by Armenians and
is depicted on the coat of arms of Armenia. Mt
Ararat and the rest of Western Armenia are now
part of Eastern Turkey.
Noravank Monastery South into the mountains to this ancient Christian
site in its extraordinary landscape setting. The
13th century monastery by a gorge is known for
its tall, sheer, brick-red cliffs. It is best known
for its two-storey Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy
Mother of God) church, and unique carvings
including a sculpture over the entrance, depicting
Christ flanked by Peter and Paul.
Evening –
Fellowship with a group of local Christian
Armenians.
Dinner & Overnight in Yerevan
Khor Virap
Pilgrimage
Northern
Regions
DAY FIVE -
Wednesday 27th September
Noratus Khachkar Cemetery Containing a large number of early ‘khachkars‛
- a carved, memorial stele bearing a cross, and
often with additional motifs.
A prominent grave is that of a 19th-century
monk who suggested that people who had fear
should pour water at his burial stone and today,
scattered broken pieces of glass indicate that
the practice is still active.
Lake Sevan –
A sail for around an hour on this beautiful lake The largest body of water in Armenia and
the Caucasus region and one of the largest
freshwater high-altitude lakes in Eurasia
supplying 90% of the fish and 80% of the
crayfish catch of Armenia.
Noratus Khachkar
Lake Sevan
Sevan and Sevanavank Monastic Complex Set on a peninsula at the north-western shore
of Lake Sevan it once was very strict as it
was mainly intended for those monks from
Etchmiadzin who had sinned. An 1850 explorer
recorded that manuscripts were still being
copied manually here.
Dilijan Continue north to the hotel.
Dinner & Overnight in Dilijan
Sevanavank
Sevan Region
Noravank Monastery
Pilgrimage
DAY SIX -
Dilijan
Yerevan
Thursday 28th September
Dilijan
Enjoy an orientation of the cultural city of
Dilijan.
Dilijan National Park Explore one of the 4 protected national parks
of the Republic of Armenia known for its forest
landscapes, rich biodiversity, medicinal mineral
water springs, natural and cultural monuments
including the 10th and 13th century monasteries
of Haghartsin and Goshavank serving as cultural
and educational centres.
Vanadzor/Spitak Vanadzor was settled in the bronze age and
today, the city is in a picturesque setting with
an attractive planned town centre. Spitak was
entirely destroyed during the devastating 1988
earthquake, and subsequently rebuilt in a slightly
different location.
Both locations afford impressive views of Mt
Aragats some 13,420 feet above sea level.
Yerevan Returning to the capital, stop at the Armenian
alphabet ‘Letter Park‛ then to the 7th century
Amberd fortress on Mount Aragats slopes
Dinner & Overnight in Yerevan
Dilijan
Pilgrimage
Eastern
Regions
Garni Temple
DAY THREE -
Monday 25th September
Echmiadzin –
By coach to Armenia‛s spiritual capital to visit
the Cathedral and museum - a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. As the main shrine of Christian
Armenians worldwide it is considered one of the
most important sites in the country.
Garni Temple –
Travel to the east of Yerevan to explore Garni
Temple, Royal Palace and Bathhouse, probably
the best-known structure and symbol of preChristian Armenia and the only known GrecoRoman colonnaded building in Armenia.
Geghard cave monastery –
A 4th Century complex carved out of the rockface located in a beautiful mountain setting
by the Azat River gorge. Founded in the 4th
century by Gregory the Illuminator the site
contains a sacred spring inside a cave and is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Dinner & Overnight in Yerevan
Echmiadzin Cathedral
Vanadzor
Pilgrimage
Heathrow
Yerevan
Pilgrimage
DAY ONE –
Yerevan
City
DAY SEVEN -
Saturday 23rd September
Flight to Yerevan
Assemble at Heathrow airport and check-in
for the flight to Yerevan.
DAY TWO -
Sunday 24th September
Flight arrival
Arrive in the early hours and travel by private
coach to the hotel for room allocation.
Yerevan, the Capital Late breakfast and an Orientation of the
city‛s highlights by coach and visits to;
Mother Armenia A 22 metres female statue with commanding
view of the city symbolising peace through
strength commemorating prominent female
figures in Armenian history.
The Cascade An impressive stairway linking the lower
city with the mountain-top monuments with
multiple levels, fountains and sculptures. The
stairs afford walkers unobstructed views of
central Yerevan and Mount Ararat.
Genocide memorial Set on one of three hills along the Hrazdan
River and visited regularly by Heads of State.
Erebuni Fortress In the city suburbs and one of several
fortresses built along the northern Urartian
border
Evening Worship –
Anglican Worship at 6 pm at the ancient
Armenian Church of Surb Zorovar.
Evening Fellowship:
After dinner meet with Revd John Barker the
Anglican Chaplain of Armenia.
Dinner & Overnight in Yerevan
Yerevan
Cathedral
Mother Armenia
Friday 29th September
Zvartnots Cathedral A morning short drive west of the city to this
Byzantine Cathedral consecrated in 652 AD
and set in the backdrop of Mount Ararat.
Yerevan Cathedral Is currently the largest cathedral of the
Armenian Apostolic Church in the world.
Free Time Shopping opportunity - or a visit to ‘Lovers
Park‛ – or visits to Matanadaren Manuscript
Museum, and/or Yerevan History Museum.
Dinner & Overnight in Yerevan
DAY EIGHT -
Saturday 30th September
Return flight -
Early breakfast and by coach to the airport for the return flight to Heathrow.
The Casscade
Typical Flights
Currently there are no direct flights from the UK to Yerevan, but there are a number of dual flight
options from Heathrow. However direct fights by airlines are being reviewed. We will determine the
best option nearer the time of the departure and also be look out for a northern airport option.
OUTWARD
Heathrow/Yerevan
Depart 19.25
Arrive 03.35 (next day)
OUTWARD
Heathrow/Yerevan
Depart
04.25
Arrive
08.20
Hotel Accommodation
Genocide Memorial
Surb Zoravor Church
YEREVAN/Diamond House/6 nights
DILIJAN/Best Western/1 night
Pilgrimage
to
Enchanting
armenia
8
DAYS
Saturday 23rd to Saturday 30th September 2017
Led by Canon Gordon Dey