Zatik (The Holy Easter) in Armenia 10 Days/9 Nights
Places of Visit: Yerevan, Khor Virap, Areni village,Noravank, Goris, Khndzoresk, Karahunch, Ashtarak, Karmravor church, Ambert.
|
|
Tour Program:
Day 1 Yerevan
Meeting at Zvartnots airport, transfer and hotel
accommodations(rooms booked beforehand).
City Tour in Yerevan
A visit to Cascade and continue tour to Haghtanak
(Vicotory) Park where you can see the monument of
Mother Armenia.It is a statue of an Armenian Mother
overlooking the capital city of Yerevan and it
symbolizes peace through strength.
Continue tour to Erebouni Foretress-museum.
The fortress Erebuni was built on the hill Arin
Berd is situated in the south-east of the City of
Yerevan. Museum was built on the foot of citadel,
where precious pattern, objects of cult and
practical importance of Urartian culture are
exhibited.
Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 2 Etchmiatsin
Breakfast at the hotel. Trip to Etchmiatsin Cathedral.
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiatsin is the spiritual
and administrative headquarters of the worldwide
Armenian Church. Holy Echmiatsin is a cathedral
built in the years 302 to 303 AD, soon after
Christianity was established as the official state
religion of Armenia. It is said that St Gregory,
known also as the Holy Illuminator as he
enlightened King Tridat and led him to Christianity
in 301, had a vision of Christ coming down from the
clouds and striking the ground at Etchmiatsin with a
golden hammer, thus designating the location of the
new church.
It is spiritual place for the people who first adopted
Christianity and The residence of Patriarch (called
"Catholikos")of the world's 7 million Armenian
Orthodox .
Take part in the mass. Today Armenians are
celebrating Zatik, Holy Easter. Easter (Zatik) is the
favourite and the most anticipated holiday in the
Christian world. Everybody greets each other on this
day: “Christ has arisen"-“Blessed is the resurrection
of Christ". During the Lenten fasting season of 40
days before Easter, Armenian families put lentils or
other sprouting grains on a tray covered with a thin
layer of cotton, and keep it in a light place of the
house until Easter when sprouts appear. These green
sprouts, symbolizing spring and awakening of
nature, are the “grass" on which people place colored
eggs to decorate the Easter table. To the present day,
Armenians have preserved the beautiful biblical lore
which refers to red eggs and cheorek (sweet bread):
“When Christ was crucified, his mother took some
eggs and bread wrapped in the shawl. When the
Mother saw her Son crucified and his arms bleeding,
she knelt down and cried. The Mother's tears and
Son's blood dropping on the shawl colored the eggs
and bread. Then the Mother put the shawl on her head.
Since that day people began coloring eggs red on
Easter day and women began wearing shawls when
visiting church.
Return to Yerevan with stop at the ruins of Zvartnots
temple - the pearl of the 7 c. architecture. Both are
listed as aWorld Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Possible: To arrange dinner with Armenian
family and you can be present at the celebration of
Zatik and play with eggs, taste Armenian dishes,
sing and dance & simply enjoy yourself.
Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 3 Karmravor
Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion trip to Ashtarak. Visit
Karmravor church. The small church of Karmravor
meaning reddish hue is dedicated to St Astvadzadzin
and located in the town of Ashtarak There is no exact
date of construction known however on the basis of its
architecture it is considered to be from the 7th century
Karmaravor is a very small domed church measuring
only 19 by 24 feet This church belongs to a series of
small Armenian churches built as free crosses It has
a horseshoe east apse which is rectangular on the
exterior The other three arms or bays are rectangular
both inside and in their exterior There are four
squinches above the central square that complete
the octagon of the drum and eight small squinches
are used between the drum and cupola Karmravor
is simply decorated with geometric motifs braids
zigzags of semicircles and foliages The cornices
are of basket weave sculpturing and the dome eaves
are decorated with leaf design Entrance to the church
is from the west.
Karmravor remains in a good state of preservation.
Inside of the church you may find canvases
belonging the culture of eastern Christian.
Amberd: Amberd is a fortress complex with a church
built on the slopes of Mountain Aragats at 2,300
meters above sea level in the XI-XIII centuries.
Amberd translates to in
Armenian. Amberd stands on a rocky eminence,
again one of the impregnable fortresses of medieval
Armenia. The princely castle of Amberd was built
in the 11th to 13th centuries. A two-storeyed structure
fitted with a majestic staircase, the castle is
protected by walls with inclined towers. The baths
were constructed outside the palace in the 13th
century. The church was built in 1026 by Prince
Vahram Pahlavuni. It belongs to the cupola's hall
type. The exterior architecture is simple and
expressive, crowned by an umbrella shaped cupola.
The road leading up to it on Mountain Aragats is
virtually uninhabited and has gently sloping hills
with the occasional shepherd and beekeeper, many
wildflowers and great views. It is a perfect spot to
relax, go back in time, and catch your breath.
Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 4 Yerevan
Free day.
Day 5 Goris
Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion tour to Khor Virap,
from where you can have the best view of Biblical
mountain Ararat. Khor Virap is one of the most
popular destinations in Armenia where Grigor
Luisavorich (St. Gregory the Illuminator)-the first
Catholics of all Armenians- was imprisoned for 13
years. This caused the conversion of Armenia into
the first official Christian nation in the world in 301.
Continue tour to Noravank monastery of 13 c is
listed as aWorld Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Noravank ("New monastery") was founded by
Bishop Hovhannes, who moved there in 1205.
Continue tour to AreniWine factory for wine
degustation.
Overnight at the hotel “Mirhav” in Goris.
Day 6 Jermuk
Breakfast at the hotel.
Excursion tour to Khndzoresk which is a cave village
and there are many signs of past settlement throughout
the valley which are just waiting for discovery. There
are a very large number of caves, although most of them
are rather small. You will see that many of the caves have
been carved out by man and served as houses for
people. You will find the ruins of a village, a
beautiful ancient church, and very old tombstones.
AVisit to Karahunge, ancient observatory 5mil
B.C. Karahunge or Karahundj, Zorakarer is 3, 500
years older than England's Stonehenge and 3, 000
years older than the Egyptian pyramids. The total
area of the observatory is 7 hectares. According to
the scientist's observations, a temple consisting of
40 stones built in honor of the Armenians' main God,
Ari, meaning the Sun, is situated in the central part of
Karahunge. Besides the temple, it had a large and
developed observatory, and also a university that
makes up the temple's wings.
Overnight at the hotel in Jermuk.
Day 7 Jermuk
Breakfast at the hotel. Have appropriate service at the
hotel-sanatorium.
Different procedures according to doctor's prescription.
Free day.
Overnight at the hotel in Jermuk.
Day 8 Jermuk
Breakfast at the hotel.
A visit to Jermuk .It is a great place to spend as much
time as you can spare to relax and get away from it all.
Visit Jermuk waterfall and admire it. Then visit the
Gallery of mineral. Thousands of tourists each year
visited Armenia for the purpose of recovering from a
number of illnesses with the curing thermal waters
of Jermuk. There are lots of things to explore in this
beautifull city. There are several things you can check
out in Jermuk. Also, there is a tall cliff, that has
natural carved bottom, locals call it "erazankneri
kamurdge" The Bridge of Dreams'', meaning if you
pass under it and make a wish it comes true. Another
place you can check out is this spring. It is on your
way out of the village. It is called "sour water".
People there say wash your face with it and your
wrinkles go away. Thousands of tourists each year
visited Armenia for the purpose of recovering from
a number of illnesses with the curing thermal waters
of Jermuk.
Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 9 Yerevan
Free day.
Day 10 Yerevan
Departure.
Standard Tour price
Includes:
- Accommodation
- Transportation
- Full board
- Entrance fees
- English speaking guide
Does not include:
- Personal insurance;
- Photo and Camera fees;
- Visa and consular fees;
- Tips for guide and driver;
- International/local Flight Tickets;
- Items not mentioned above.
- Visa to Armenia
| |
|
