Geghardavank (meaning: the monastery of the spear) was founded in the fourth century by Saint Gregory. It’s principal chapel was build in the 13th century. The name comes from the monasteries most relevant relic: The spear with which Jesus was wounded during crucification. Today it is displayed in Echmiadzin, currently on loan to a New […]
Rosas Haiku of the day: In Stein gemeißelt Das Rund ruht über dem Geviert Zwölf Säulen tragen
The Monastery was build in 13th century and is picturesquely located next to the gorge of Kasagh river. One peculiarity of this Monastery is the tympanum of the “Bearded Virgins” which are obviously also depicted in Hovanavank Monastery. There is the myth that there are five wise virgins and five stupid virgins with beards and Jesus […]
Sanahin Monastery (meaning: This one is older than that one – referring to Haghpat Monastery) was clearly one of my favorite Monasteries from the felt 200 Monasteries we have seen during our stay in Armenia. It was build in the 10th century. It is more chaotic and full of hidden symbols than other monasteries I […]
The Gorge of Dsoraget partially looks like if a giant would have cut into earth with a giant knife. I didn’t find anything like an information about the geological formation history of this site, but looking at the clear and straight edges, it nearly seams impossible that a river should have done this. Even if it […]
Odzun Basilica dates back to the 7th century and differs from other sacral buildings we have seen. Some of those extravaganzas are the proportions (height vs. width ratio) which rather evokes the thought of gothic decendance than one from the early middle ages. Second are the paintings inside the church – above all a giant […]
Haghpat Monastery was build in the 10th century and was listed – together with Sanahin Monastery – as Unesco World Heritage Site.
Alaverdi is a city of 13.000 and was the biggest center of copper mining since the 18th century. 13% of all copper of the Russian Empire came from here. During Soviet times Alaverdi has been enlarged massively to satisfy the metallurgical needs of the Soviet Union. Today there are still 500 people working in the […]
Gukhtak Churches Matosavank Monastery I saw a sign for the Transcaucasian Trail on the way and was surprised because I always thought the trail to be located in the upper Caucasus in Georgia. I looked for a map and the only thing I found was a map from a planned […]
Goshavank Monastery (meaning: the Monastery of Gosh) is from the 12th or 13th century. It’s recent renovation was payed by an islamic person from the United Arabic Emirates out of unknown reasons. Rosas Haiku: Wasser Mehl und Salz Der Tonir hütet die Glut Das Brot häutet sich
