YEREVAN
Travel to Yerevan
“վարդագույն քաղաք”
“The Pink City”
“The Pink City”
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Yerevan is the capital of Armenia, and is one of the oldest cities in Europe. Its history begun in 782BC, when the kingdom of Urartu (decedents of the Armenians) built a fortress (name Erebuni) on the land. Every year in October, the city celebrates the fortification, which marks its official birthday. The main attractions of the city consist of the Cascade, Republic Square, and St. Gregory Cathedral. The Cascade is a giant stairway made of limestone, which is filled with contemporary art, and contains an art museum. In my opinion, it’s one of the best man-made sights in Europe. Republic Square is the main piazza and focal point of the city. In the summer time, the square is lit up by musical fountains. St. Gregory Cathedral is the largest religious complex in Armenia with a capacity of 1700 people. In 301AD, he and King Tiridates begun the Christian revolution in the country. The capital has many daytrips that are worth exploring; this includes Khor Virap, Lake Sevan, Garni, and Etchmiadzin. Khor Virap is an Armenian monastery located near Mt Ararat. Lake Sevan is one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in the world. Garni is a 1st century Greek style temple. And Etchmiadzin is regarded as the Vatican of the ‘Armenian Apostolic Church’.
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Sights
Sights & Trips
A mosque has been on this site since 1765. In the beginning of the 20th century it was closed during the time of the Soviet Union. Its present structure was constructed in the late 1990s with the assistant funding of Iran. Now, it’s the only functioning mosque in Yerevan.
A giant stairway made of limestone filled with contemporary art, and an art museum inside. The art museum is called the ‘Cafesjian centre for the arts’. It commenced in the 1980s, yet it was put on halt after the 1988 earthquake. Gerard Cafesjian funded the completion, which is why the complex is named after him. The museum has 5 exhibition halls and 2 external garden galleries.
The memorial is to pay remembrance for the lives lost during the Armenia Genocide between 1915 to 1922, which was inflicted by the Ottoman Empire. The complex is a 2 story exhibition space and museum, which comprises of photographs, documents, newspaper reports, and films relating to the tragic event. The lead up to the memorial is a 100 metre long wall, which has the names of the massacred communities engraved; this was built in 1967. The memorial itself contains a 40 metre spire and a dome shaped construct. The dome contains 12 slabs which encompass to an open roof. Inside the centre of the dome, is an external flame. The 12 slabs represent the 12 lost provinces of Western Armenia, which are now in Turkey. These provinces were given to Turkey after WWI, when Ataturk (president of Turkey) made a peace deal with Lenin (President of Soviet Union). The most fascinating story in the memorial was ‘Aurora Mardiganian’. She was born in Cemisgezek in Western Armenia, which is now in modern day Turkey. In July 1915, when she was 14, her and her family were forced from their homes by Turkish officials to a caravan with other exiles. From there, they were sent to walk to Syria. On the way, she saw every member of her family murdered, and then she was retained in a Turkish Harem (i.e. female slave house). She managed to escape, yet she was then captured by Kurdish slave traders. She managed to escape again, and set a 600km journey to get to the town of Erzurum, which was a safe haven, as it was protected by Russian troops. She arrived in 1917, and was sent to St. Petersburg by the American committee for Armenian and Syrian relief (known as the ‘Near East Foundation’). From there, the foundation migrated her to the United States of America. Once in America, she wrote her story ‘My 2 years of torture in Ravished, Martyred Armenia’. Her story was published in a newspaper. In 1918, she then wrote her memoir: Ravished Armenia; the story of Aurora Mardiganian, the Christian girl, who survived the great massacres. The memoir was highly successful, in which it brought international attention to the situation in Armenia and Turkey. That year in 1918, a silent movie was made, based on Aurora’s book in which she starred, it was called ‘Ravished Armenia’ (‘The auction of souls’). Aurora died in California in 1994.
A manuscript library of Armenian literature, and other historic text. The first book depository was built by Mesrop Mashtots (inventor of the Armenian alphabet) at ‘Vagharshapat’ in the 5th century. The depository held thousands of Armenian manuscripts. However, only 1800 survived due to the various invasions from other empires. These books were transferred to the current manuscript library in 1957. The library has a large statue of Mashtots teaching his alphabet outside the complex, with 6 other statues of scholars and writers outside the entrance door. Inside the library there are over 23,000 pieces of manuscripts, fragments, documents, and maps. This comprises of Armenian medieval sciences, literature, and art; Greek and Roman sciences and philosophy; and Iranian and Arabic manuscripts. The largest manuscript is the 13th century ‘Homilies of mush’. This document was so heavy, that it was ripped in half by two women so it could be carried away safely during the Armenian genocide (1915-1922). The book was put back together eventually after many years apart.
The complex is located in victory park (has a small fun fair on the weekends), which is above the cascade stairway. The attraction comprise of a military museum, and a 22m statue of a lady in a military stance holding a massive sword. The statue represents a strong sense of national hood, in which the nation overcame invasions, massacres, and repression. The complex opened in the 1950s, yet the statue was originally a 17m sculpture of Stalin. The Stalin statue was pulled down one night unannounced by the Armenian people, however in the process 1 soldier died and several people were injured. In 1967, the ‘Mother Armenia’ statue was the new centre piece. The military museum comprises of the Armenian involvement in WWII, operation Nemesis, and the Karabakh war. In WWII, 300,000 Armenians died for the Soviet Union, in which half were sent to fight. Operation Nemesis is the action taken by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation between 1920 and 1922, in response to the Armenian Genocide, in which Ottoman political and military officials were assassinated. The Karabakh war, which occurred between 1990 and 1994, was a territorial fight between Armenia and Azerbaijan for the region of Karabakh.
Yerevan’s main square, which was originally named ‘Vladimir Lenin’ square. The name changed in 1990 to ‘Republic Square’. The design of the square was made by Alexander Tamanian, who prepared it to be the focal point of the city. The construction of the square commenced in 1926, and it was completed in 1958. The main feature of the square is the stone pattern in the centre, which is a reference to a traditional Armenian carpet. Underneath the square is a large bunker constructed during the cold war between the Soviets and USA (1947 – 1991), to protect important officials in case of a nuclear attack. The bunker is closed to the public. In the summer, musical fountains are played during the sunset till 10pm. The republic square is joint to the ‘History museum of Armenia’. The museum has a collection of Bronze Age relics, which most of them were dug out from the cemetery of Lchashen, near Lake Sevan in the 1950s. The museum contains bronze sculptures, wooden chariots, weapons, armour, carpets, a 5500 year old leather shoe, and 18th century Armenian clothing.
The largest cathedral in Armenia, and the largest Armenian Apostolic Church in the world, with a capacity of 1700 seats. The church was built in 1997, and it opened in 2001 to celebrate 1700 years of Christianity. The complex comprises of 1 cathedral and 2 chapels, in which represents 3 figures. The cathedral represents ‘Saint Gregory’, who had a godly vision, which shone the way to Christianity. The chapels represent King Tiridates and Queen Askhen, who supported Gregory in the country’s conversion to Christianity.
A mosque has been on this site since 1765. In the beginning of the 20th century it was closed during the time of the Soviet Union. Its present structure was constructed in the late 1990s with the assistant funding of Iran. Now, it’s the only functioning mosque in Yerevan.
A giant stairway made of limestone filled with contemporary art, and an art museum inside. The art museum is called the ‘Cafesjian centre for the arts’. It commenced in the 1980s, yet it was put on halt after the 1988 earthquake. Gerard Cafesjian funded the completion, which is why the complex is named after him. The museum has 5 exhibition halls and 2 external garden galleries.
The memorial is to pay remembrance for the lives lost during the Armenia Genocide between 1915 to 1922, which was inflicted by the Ottoman Empire. The complex is a 2 story exhibition space and museum, which comprises of photographs, documents, newspaper reports, and films relating to the tragic event. The lead up to the memorial is a 100 metre long wall, which has the names of the massacred communities engraved; this was built in 1967. The memorial itself contains a 40 metre spire and a dome shaped construct. The dome contains 12 slabs which encompass to an open roof. Inside the centre of the dome, is an external flame. The 12 slabs represent the 12 lost provinces of Western Armenia, which are now in Turkey. These provinces were given to Turkey after WWI, when Ataturk (president of Turkey) made a peace deal with Lenin (President of Soviet Union). The most fascinating story in the memorial was ‘Aurora Mardiganian’. She was born in Cemisgezek in Western Armenia, which is now in modern day Turkey. In July 1915, when she was 14, her and her family were forced from their homes by Turkish officials to a caravan with other exiles. From there, they were sent to walk to Syria. On the way, she saw every member of her family murdered, and then she was retained in a Turkish Harem (i.e. female slave house). She managed to escape, yet she was then captured by Kurdish slave traders. She managed to escape again, and set a 600km journey to get to the town of Erzurum, which was a safe haven, as it was protected by Russian troops. She arrived in 1917, and was sent to St. Petersburg by the American committee for Armenian and Syrian relief (known as the ‘Near East Foundation’). From there, the foundation migrated her to the United States of America. Once in America, she wrote her story ‘My 2 years of torture in Ravished, Martyred Armenia’. Her story was published in a newspaper. In 1918, she then wrote her memoir: Ravished Armenia; the story of Aurora Mardiganian, the Christian girl, who survived the great massacres. The memoir was highly successful, in which it brought international attention to the situation in Armenia and Turkey. That year in 1918, a silent movie was made, based on Aurora’s book in which she starred, it was called ‘Ravished Armenia’ (‘The auction of souls’). Aurora died in California in 1994.
A manuscript library of Armenian literature, and other historic text. The first book depository was built by Mesrop Mashtots (inventor of the Armenian alphabet) at ‘Vagharshapat’ in the 5th century. The depository held thousands of Armenian manuscripts. However, only 1800 survived due to the various invasions from other empires. These books were transferred to the current manuscript library in 1957. The library has a large statue of Mashtots teaching his alphabet outside the complex, with 6 other statues of scholars and writers outside the entrance door. Inside the library there are over 23,000 pieces of manuscripts, fragments, documents, and maps. This comprises of Armenian medieval sciences, literature, and art; Greek and Roman sciences and philosophy; and Iranian and Arabic manuscripts. The largest manuscript is the 13th century ‘Homilies of mush’. This document was so heavy, that it was ripped in half by two women so it could be carried away safely during the Armenian genocide (1915-1922). The book was put back together eventually after many years apart.
The complex is located in victory park (has a small fun fair on the weekends), which is above the cascade stairway. The attraction comprise of a military museum, and a 22m statue of a lady in a military stance holding a massive sword. The statue represents a strong sense of national hood, in which the nation overcame invasions, massacres, and repression. The complex opened in the 1950s, yet the statue was originally a 17m sculpture of Stalin. The Stalin statue was pulled down one night unannounced by the Armenian people, however in the process 1 soldier died and several people were injured. In 1967, the ‘Mother Armenia’ statue was the new centre piece. The military museum comprises of the Armenian involvement in WWII, operation Nemesis, and the Karabakh war. In WWII, 300,000 Armenians died for the Soviet Union, in which half were sent to fight. Operation Nemesis is the action taken by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation between 1920 and 1922, in response to the Armenian Genocide, in which Ottoman political and military officials were assassinated. The Karabakh war, which occurred between 1990 and 1994, was a territorial fight between Armenia and Azerbaijan for the region of Karabakh.
Yerevan’s main square, which was originally named ‘Vladimir Lenin’ square. The name changed in 1990 to ‘Republic Square’. The design of the square was made by Alexander Tamanian, who prepared it to be the focal point of the city. The construction of the square commenced in 1926, and it was completed in 1958. The main feature of the square is the stone pattern in the centre, which is a reference to a traditional Armenian carpet. Underneath the square is a large bunker constructed during the cold war between the Soviets and USA (1947 – 1991), to protect important officials in case of a nuclear attack. The bunker is closed to the public. In the summer, musical fountains are played during the sunset till 10pm. The republic square is joint to the ‘History museum of Armenia’. The museum has a collection of Bronze Age relics, which most of them were dug out from the cemetery of Lchashen, near Lake Sevan in the 1950s. The museum contains bronze sculptures, wooden chariots, weapons, armour, carpets, a 5500 year old leather shoe, and 18th century Armenian clothing.
The largest cathedral in Armenia, and the largest Armenian Apostolic Church in the world, with a capacity of 1700 seats. The church was built in 1997, and it opened in 2001 to celebrate 1700 years of Christianity. The complex comprises of 1 cathedral and 2 chapels, in which represents 3 figures. The cathedral represents ‘Saint Gregory’, who had a godly vision, which shone the way to Christianity. The chapels represent King Tiridates and Queen Askhen, who supported Gregory in the country’s conversion to Christianity.
Regarded as the Vatican of the ‘Armenian Apostolic Church’. This is the site when ‘Saint Gregory the Illuminator’ saw a ray of light fall to the earth in a divine vision. From there, he built the first church of Armenia, in which it was completed in 303AD. The church later fell in ruin, yet it was rebuilt between 480 and 493. Overtime, the cathedral had more expansions and restorations. The cathedral space inside is 20 metres by 20 metres, with the altarpiece in the centre, in which was the place where he saw the divine light strike the ground. The cathedral contains a museum which includes the supposedly ‘Holy Lance’. The Lance was the weapon used by the Roman Soldier who pierce Jesus while on the cross. The head of the spear is held in a 17th century gold-silver case.
Known for its 1st century Greek style temple, dedicated to the Roman Sun God ‘Mithra’. The complex was built by Armenia’s king ‘Tiridates I of Armenia’. In 1679, an earthquake largely destroyed the temple. Between 1969 to 1975, the temple was rebuilt. Within the region, archaeologists had found an 8th century BC tablet with Urartian inscription.
The monastery was founded in the 4th century AD. Its construct was carved out of a rock from the ‘Azat River Gorge’. The name ‘Geghard’, which means ‘spear’, is named after the lance which pierced Jesus at the cross. The church in the monastery, is called the ‘Holy Mother of God Church’, which dates back to 1215. The monastery is a UNESCO site.
Khor Virap is an Armenian monastery located near Mt Ararat. The famous Biblical Mountain where Noah’s Arc was settled after the great flood. It was where St. Gregory the Illuminator, was imprisoned in a snake infested pit for 14 years by King Tiridates III. However after the 14 years, St. Gregory managed to cure King Tiridates III ‘madness’, which earned his release, and also began the Christian revolution in the country. In 301AD, Christianity became the first state religion in the world. The monastery continues to hold regular church services.
The largest lake in Armenia, and the Caucasus region, at 80km long and 30km at its widest. It’s also one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in the world, at 1900m above sea level. The lake changes colour and shades depending on the weather. In the 1950s, the depth of the lake fell by 20m. This was due to the Hrazdan river being trapped by hydroelectric plants. The Soviets wanted to drain the lake even further to one-sixth of its size, but it didn’t occur. The consequence of the lower depth was actually beneficial, as it made the ‘Sevanavank Peninsula’, and ancient relics from 2000 years were found.
The memorial is to pay remembrance for the first Armenian Republic (May 1918) who defended their country from the Turks, in which they saved it from a likely annihilation. It was built in 1968, and is a popular pilgrimage for the Armenian people. The memorial is set on a hill, and has an orange appearance.
The cathedral (also known as Celestial Angels) was built in the 7th century, yet was destroyed in the 10th century. The complex is dedicated to ‘Saint Gregory the Illuminator’. It wasn’t until the 20th century, that the ruins of the cathedral was found. In 2000, the site became a UNESCO site, and the cathedral was partially reconstructed.
Regarded as the Vatican of the ‘Armenian Apostolic Church’. This is the site when ‘Saint Gregory the Illuminator’ saw a ray of light fall to the earth in a divine vision. From there, he built the first church of Armenia, in which it was completed in 303AD. The church later fell in ruin, yet it was rebuilt between 480 and 493. Overtime, the cathedral had more expansions and restorations. The cathedral space inside is 20 metres by 20 metres, with the altarpiece in the centre, in which was the place where he saw the divine light strike the ground. The cathedral contains a museum which includes the supposedly ‘Holy Lance’. The Lance was the weapon used by the Roman Soldier who pierce Jesus while on the cross. The head of the spear is held in a 17th century gold-silver case.
Known for its 1st century Greek style temple, dedicated to the Roman Sun God ‘Mithra’. The complex was built by Armenia’s king ‘Tiridates I of Armenia’. In 1679, an earthquake largely destroyed the temple. Between 1969 to 1975, the temple was rebuilt. Within the region, archaeologists had found an 8th century BC tablet with Urartian inscription.
The monastery was founded in the 4th century AD. Its construct was carved out of a rock from the ‘Azat River Gorge’. The name ‘Geghard’, which means ‘spear’, is named after the lance which pierced Jesus at the cross. The church in the monastery, is called the ‘Holy Mother of God Church’, which dates back to 1215. The monastery is a UNESCO site.
Khor Virap is an Armenian monastery located near Mt Ararat. The famous Biblical Mountain where Noah’s Arc was settled after the great flood. It was where St. Gregory the Illuminator, was imprisoned in a snake infested pit for 14 years by King Tiridates III. However after the 14 years, St. Gregory managed to cure King Tiridates III ‘madness’, which earned his release, and also began the Christian revolution in the country. In 301AD, Christianity became the first state religion in the world. The monastery continues to hold regular church services.
The largest lake in Armenia, and the Caucasus region, at 80km long and 30km at its widest. It’s also one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in the world, at 1900m above sea level. The lake changes colour and shades depending on the weather. In the 1950s, the depth of the lake fell by 20m. This was due to the Hrazdan river being trapped by hydroelectric plants. The Soviets wanted to drain the lake even further to one-sixth of its size, but it didn’t occur. The consequence of the lower depth was actually beneficial, as it made the ‘Sevanavank Peninsula’, and ancient relics from 2000 years were found.
The memorial is to pay remembrance for the first Armenian Republic (May 1918) who defended their country from the Turks, in which they saved it from a likely annihilation. It was built in 1968, and is a popular pilgrimage for the Armenian people. The memorial is set on a hill, and has an orange appearance.
The cathedral (also known as Celestial Angels) was built in the 7th century, yet was destroyed in the 10th century. The complex is dedicated to ‘Saint Gregory the Illuminator’. It wasn’t until the 20th century, that the ruins of the cathedral was found. In 2000, the site became a UNESCO site, and the cathedral was partially reconstructed.
