Garni & Geghard

Sep 9, 2019 | Caucasus

Garni & Geghard

From Yerevan we took a bus tour to Garni temple and Geghard monastery.

We stopped off for a Lavash bread making demonstration and tasting. The oven is a hole in the ground. The bread is made only with flour and water and a little egg.

The bread can be stored for a long time which was very useful during the (many) times of conflict.

Yum. Wrapped around some sheeps’ cheese and herbs.

Transp-art

Before Christianity, Armenia was pagan. Only one pagan temple “Garni” has survived Christianity and the Soviet times. It has been destroyed by an earthquake in the early 1,700’s and partially reconstructed. The defensive wall is on one side only as it is protected by high cliffs on the other sides.

Defensive wall

Approach to the temple

24 pillars

View from the top of the cliffs at the back of the temple to the basalt rocks behind.

Next was the Geghard monastery. This is built into caves in the rock. The acoustics for singing or chanting are impressive. Sounds are said to echo 13 times.

Geghard monastery

Escapee monk

Some original parts built into caves in the rock

Armenian cross reproduced in wood. The three levels represent earth, the church, and heaven.