Geghard (UNESCO)
The Monastery of Geghard (the Lance) is located 36 KM from the city of Yerevan in the mountainous region of Kotayk. It is near the village of Garni. Geghard is another incredible ancient Armenian monastery, Partly carved in a cave Geghard represents another incredible architectural complex. Inscriptive and documentary references to the monastery, also known as Ayrivank', date from the 7th and 10th centuries, respectively. Ayrivank' has also been called 'the monastery of the cave', 'the monastery of seven churches' and 'the monastery of the forty altars'. Alternately, it was also called Gheghardavank', 'the monastery of the spear or lance'.
According to the legend, the lance that pierced the body of Chirst by a Roman soldier during the Crucifixion was found in one of the rocks. The spear was long housed at Geghard, but is now in the museum of Echmiadzin Cathedral. The monastic complex presently located within the existing walls dates to the 13th century and includes the main structures of the Katholike, a gavit, two rock-cut churches which were hollowed out of the steep cliffs on the north side of the monastery and a zhamatun. The complex includes a seminary and scriptorium. All around the monastery are caves and khachkars. In the enclosure are numerous chapels and cells carved out of the natural rock on several levels of the mountain slope. Outside the walls to the west is the rock-carved chapel of S. Astvadzadzin (Mother of God) on which the earliest inscription is dated 1164 AD.
Geghard complex can be truly regarded as one of the most visited places in Armenia by tourists and pilgrims.
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