Experiences in Armenia
Religious sites in Armenia
Armenia, as one of the most ancient countries, not only has an ancient culture and rich history, but also ancient religious history, dating back centuries — Christianity from 301 AD, and prehistoric pagan religions.
Cultural Significance of Religion in Armenia
Throughout history Armenia has developed a unique look due to its devotion to Christianity. The country is a home to over a hundred monasteries. Religion has left its roots not only in the architecture, but also music, food and traditional clothing. Christianity has helped Armenians to preserve their oldest traditions by converting them to have religious significance.
2000 Years of Pagan Past
Armenia has not only a 1700-year Christian history, but also more than 2000 years of a pagan past. The Armenians had their own gods, most of which coincided with the Romans and Greeks. On the territory of Historical Armenia there are several monuments dedicated to the ancient Armenian gods. One of them is a Garni temple located on the territory of present-day Armenia. The temple was built in the 1st century AD by King Trdat I in dedication to the pagan god of the Sun – Mihra. After Trdat III adopted Christianity as the state religion all pagan temples were destroyed. The Garni temple was not destroyed, unlike other pagan temples, because it was the King’s sister’s favorite place of rest. Additionally, it was in the territory of the summer residence of the royal family. To this day, it is the only pagan temple that has survived in the whole region of the Caucasus. Currently, Garni is a symbol of Armenian neopaganism and one of the most popular tourist destinations of the country – annually more than 136,000 tourists visit this place.
The Descent of the Only-Begotten
The most important place of the Christian period in Armenia is the Etchmiadzin Cathedral. The original church was built in the early fourth century. According to tradition, the cathedral was built between 301 and 303 near the royal palace in the then Armenian capital city of Vagharshapat, on the location of a pagan temple. Armenia’s patron saint Gregory the Illuminator had a vision of Jesus Christ descending from heaven and striking the earth with a golden hammer to show where the cathedral should be built. Hence, the patriarch gave the church the name of Etchmiadzin, which translates to “the Descent of the Only-Begotten”.
Religion has always been very important for Armenians. Throughout the territory of historical Armenia and Armenia today there are many churches built from the 4th century to the present day. Even one of the oldest capitals of Armenia, the city of Ani is called “the city of 1,001 churches”. It is now situated in Turkey’s province of Kars, next to the closed border with Armenia.
Khor Virap
The walled monastery complex, which sits on a rocky outcrop above the river plan, offers magnificent views of Mount Ararat as well as a fine example of early Armenian ecclesiastic architecture, the ruins of nearby Ancient Artashat and the Khor Virap State Nature Reserve.
Khor Virap plays an integral role in the history of Armenia due to the legend of St. Gregory the Illuminator, the first Armenian Catholicos, who was imprisoned there for 13 years. During the reign of King Tiridates III the Great, Gregory the Illuminator was trying to spread Christianity in Armenia, which was not approved by the pagan ruler. Gregory refused to worship pagan Gods, thus, the king ordered his guards to tie the Christian’s hands and throw him into a deep well. King Tiridates left Gregory to die in the dark dungeon where he was imprisoned. He spent 13 years in that dark, damp and small place, but survived due to the kindness of a woman’s tender heart.
The Monastery of the Spear
A significant place in the history of Armenian religion is The Geghard Monastery. While the main chapel was built in 1215, the monastery complex was founded in the 4th century by St. Gregory the Illuminator at the site of a sacred spring inside a cave. The monastery had thus been originally named Ayrivank, meaning “the Monastery of the Cave.” The name commonly used for the monastery today, Geghard, or more fully Geghardavank, meaning ”the Monastery of the Spear”, originates from the spear which had wounded Jesus at the Crucifixion, allegedly brought to Armenia by Apostle Jude, called here Thaddeus, and stored among many other relics. It is now displayed in the Echmiadzin museum, along with other religious treasures. Geghard is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Weddings & Honeymoons in Armenia
Armenia is the perfect destination for your wedding day as well as your honeymoon. Don’t miss out on the chance to impress your guests and celebrate your beautiful union.
Your Wedding in Armenia
Armenia – a country of celebration and heartfelt warmth. On the land of a thousand churches, marriage is a sacred and fun reason to get together with your closest family and friends to celebrate. This sacred day should be celebrated in a way that brings to life all your sacred dreams and fantasies. Your wedding day should be special for both you and your partner in order to honor the celebration of your union. Whether you want a more traditional wedding or something more offbeat, you can find a way to make your special day unique for both of you in Armenia.
Perfect Locations for Your Wedding
There are many large restaurants and wedding halls throughout the country to comfortably host your wedding party and guests. Catering will be a breeze as many caterers and restaurants are accustomed to preparing large quantities of food to accommodate all type of parties. There are also various bakeries that will create unique and stunning wedding cakes that will wow your guests. Take the time to choose the most delicious foods to be paired with the fun you and your guests will have.
Armenia is a country of churches and monasteries: some ancient, some new, but all perfect for your wedding day. You can choose to explore the unique cultural heritage of Armenia by choosing a historical venue to hold your wedding in. If you wish for something more modern and unconventional, you can always go for a wedding in a farmhouse somewhere in the countryside. There are both perfect urban locations and venues in the heart of the nature. It all depends on what you wish for.
Affordability of Armenia
Planning the wedding is stressful on its own, yet the thought about the prices of it all may drive everyone involved go crazy. Armenia is amazing place to hold a wedding, not only in the sense of landscapes, venues and food, but also its very low cost friendly. You will save up immensely as compared to if you decided to celebrate your wedding in other European countries.
Hair and makeup for the bride and wedding party should be no problem, as every block in Yerevan has stylish and affordable salons that will make the act of dressing up fun and relaxing for everyone involved.
Traditional Armenian Wedding
Armenians are very fond of preserving ancient traditions and as traditional Armenian weddings happen to be the heart of it all, the best wedding traditions are preserved to this day. There are many local wedding agencies that allow you to travel back in time into the ancient Armenia for your special day. The celebration is completely unique and incorporates many elements of Armenian culture both in the ceremonial parts and the celebration parts. You or your future wife will have the chance to wear the traditional Armenian wedding gown and jewelry. There will be many games for everyone involved as well as endless row of delicious dishes.
Your Honeymoon in Armenia
Whether you plan your honeymoon for the summer or winter, there are plenty of activities for you and your partner to enjoy together. Enjoy the summer sun on the shores of Lake Sevan, and take a dip in the silky waters to cool off from the heat. You can rent paddle boats and skis for some added adventure. If you’re more into winter sports, spend your time in Tsaghkadzor skiing and tubing on the crystal white snow hills.
Armenia has a lot to offer for those adventurous couples. The picturesque Armenian landscapes are perfect for hiking, zip-lining, and paragliding to get your heart rates going. There’s nothing more romantic than discovering and exploring new places together.
Armenia has also a lot to offer for the people looking forward to simply relaxing after the stressful planning of the wedding. Whether in an urban environment of the capital Yerevan or somewhere in the countryside, you’ll find the perfect peace with your partner and the needed detachment from the rest of the world.
MICE & Business Tourism in Armenia
Enjoy the perfect balance of business and pleasure for your next corporate event. There are many places to hold meetings and conferences in the most vibrant parts of the city, where you can later easily enjoy a delicious meal or drink nearby.
Rise of MICE Tourism in Armenia
Armenia is not only perfect for leisure travel, but also business tourism. Many corporations from all around the world choose Armenia for their business meetings and as a place to hold conventions. With advanced technology and facilities Armenia is continuously growing as a destination for business tourism. The rich cultural heritage combined with the hospitality of the Armenian people attract more and more corporations throughout the past decade. The mixture of the natural beauty of the country with the world class conference halls allows for the creation of a perfect destination for both individual business travelers as well as big groups. Business travelers will be pleased to discover the comfortability and the benefits of this other side of tourism in Armenia.
Organizing Corporate Events in Armenia
Armenia and Yerevan are ideal for organizing corporate events, conferences, congresses and teambuilding. First class hotels of leading international chains such as the Marriott, Hyatt, Radisson, Hilton, Royal Tulip and Best Western are at the disposal of the capital’s guests. The hotels neighbor each other, which provides an opportunity to simultaneously host up to 800 people. A wide selection of conference halls and comfortable venues with modern equipment and high speed internet connection facilitate conducting effective presentations and meetings, and the wide choice of open-air restaurants offers a fabulous gala-dinner or banquet as a dignified close of the event.
Armenia has an efficient transport network which will ensure the simplicity and swiftness of airport arrival processes. Driving to different parts of the country for meetings and conferences won’t be an issue as there are very few traffic congestions and the roads are very safe. The elaborate surface as well as underground transportation system will be of a great help to the whole group. The country is also small allowing people to go from one destination to another in a very short amount of time.
Creative actors from the Armenian event industry will develop the travel concept and organize memorable events. For example, have you ever considered a nighttime discotheque on the roof of the astronomical observatory, night at the museum, dinner in the cellars of Ararat cognac factory or at the foot of Mount Ararat?
Why Armenia?
Not only do Armenian conference centers and hotels meet business tourism requirements, the country also manages to be the treasure of it all. The biggest benefit is visiting Armenia itself. Both groups and individual business travelers have the chance to explore the beautiful Armenian landscapes and the traditional mouth watering cuisine full of vegetarian options for those who wish.
In Armenia, all these options are open to you. Armenia is a combination of ancient traditions, great historical heritage and modern chic beauty. Just survive the official part of the event and then transition into carefree tourists and walk through the city, purchase souvenirs at the Vernissage and Armenian cognac at the official stores, and enjoy music battles at the clubs. Since many unique natural and historic sights are fairly close to the capital, you can mix business with an exciting excursion through the history of this ancient land. The shopping options are also diverse and have reasonable costs. It’s an absolute pleasure to finish the tiring day of work with a visit to the mall. Armenia is a country of opportunities and hospitality. Upon your visit you’ll be able to explore new things and concepts, gain great historical knowledge and just unwind and relax.
Family Tourism in Armenia
A myriad of fun and safe activities make Armenia an ideal place to visit during all seasons with your family. Unleash your inner child and have some fun!
A Myriad of Fun for Your Family
In Armenia, one of the world’s safest countries, there are plenty of things to do with your children – whether they crave the knowledge bursting from the museums or the thrills of the water and amusement parks peppered around the city. No matter the season and the age of you and your children there’s always something fun and exciting to do in Armenia.
Yerevan Zoo
The Yerevan Zoo has 2,600 animals of 190 different species, including an aquarium with over 800 fish! There are rare birds and large mammals such as tigers and bears, as well as a special exhibit on snakes. Visiting the zoo can be not only a fun, but also an education experience for the whole family. Your kids will develop valuable skills and priceless knowledge without getting bored.
Summer Leisure in Armenia
In the hot summer months, locals and tourists flock to Lake Sevan to get away from the heat. Stay for a few days at one of the many resorts or in a tent on the shoreline, to unwind and let your kids be kids. The friendly staff are always looking for ways to entertain and provide activities for the youngest. Sit back with a glass of wine, or better yet, join in on the fun!
Summer Camps
There is a wide variety of summer camps, including those held annually at TUMO and UWC Dilijan, as well as smaller ones up in the forested mountains of Hanqavan, Aghavnadzor, and Tsaghkadzor. There are camps for adults as well as for kids. Spending the time connecting with the nature and other campers is quite a memorable experience.
The Great Outdoors
You may choose to explore the countryside and the multitude of historic monuments and amazing scenery, and there are multitudes of easy and completely safe routes that can be hiked or traversed on horseback, that will really give your children vivid experiences of nature. Many outdoor centers have opened up these past years offering a variety of activities, from zip-lining to rock climbing, all carefully and safely managed to ensure the most enjoyable rush of adrenaline anyone could hope for. See the joy on your children’s faces as they land, open-eyed, hair blown back, smiles reaching from ear to ear, after launching out into the vast Lastiver Gorge, on a series of zip-lines stretching almost two kilometers at heights of over two-hundred meters!
Exploring the Armenian Culture
If you are looking for a more educational experience for your family, know that cultural life in Armenia is always accessible to all as culture has always been intertwined with Armenian life. Cities such as Shushi and Dilijan were historic bohemian centers for music and art, and thanks to Soviet and post-Soviet influence, this is now materialized in the plethora of music halls, jazz bars, theaters, and galleries that are almost within a stone’s throw of one another. Listen to the upbeat, distinctly Armenian jazzy reggae of Reincarnation at the Reincarnation Hall, or head down to Mezzo for the soothing sounds of Armenian jazz. Khachatryan, arguably one of the most world-renowned Armenian composers, has half of the Opera House named after him, where international and national orchestras often perform musical masterpieces.
