The Monastery goes way back in time to the 4th Century, when Gregory the Illuminator set up shop, in a cave by a spring.
The main church and associated buildings were constructed in the 13th Century allegedly in the exact same spot. Amazing considering that technology and Apple maps were still aboard the mothership for future generations. (does anyone else play the Sims?)
1918, the Geghardavank; so named as (ahem cough cough), allegedly a spear was kept here; a spear that was used to stab JC as he was hanging on his cross. It translates as the Monastery of the Spear.
The complex, within the Azat River Gorge, consists of built stone buildings as well as caves hewed out of the mountainside. ( none were identified as Greg's place)
The carvings and candles in the caves had a really atmospheric feel to them
Inside the huge vaulted dark and cold vestry of the chapel a single aperture to let in light.
There were many preserved and intricate symbolic reliefs around the vestry and side rooms, religious icons and paraphernalia.
The complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One day my garden shed may also be added to the list.
That's one of a kind monastery for sure! I think we have something similar in my country with a church resting at the foot of the stone walls and even have some of its structure part of nature but haven't explored it yet. So much history and beauty in a single place!
cheers @gabrielatravels always appreciate you stopping by
Always my pleasure to stop by!
thanks , appreciate your input
What an amazing place! The richness of its history is beautifully captured in your photos. You have taken some truly stunning shots. Thanks for sharing!
cheers @krabgat thanks for stopping by, your comments and feed back is much appreciated thanks for the positivity
Congratulations, your post has been added to Pinmapple! 🎉🥳🍍
Did you know you have your own profile map?
And every post has their own map too!
Want to have your post on the map too?
What a history!! OMG!! I’m watching nowadays “The Witcher”, and this place made me remember this TV Show!! It’s incredible! Thanks a lot for sharing!
cheers @belug , I have never heard of that TV show I shall have to seek it out.
What a beauty! How many feet have climbed that staircase? How many behinds have sat on those pews? The beautiful craftsmanship everywhere the eye touches! The carivngs!! ahhh, I am in love!
cheers @tamaralovelace thanks for stopping by, your positivity is shared by me too.
Congratulations @grindle! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain And have been rewarded with New badge(s)
Your next payout target is 21000 HP.
The unit is Hive Power equivalent because post and comment rewards can be split into HP and HBD
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPTo support your work, I also upvoted your post!
Check out our last posts:
Hiya, @LivingUKTaiwan here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Daily Travel Digest #1936.
Your post has been manually curated by the @pinmapple team. If you like what we're doing, please drop by to check out all the rest of today's great posts and consider supporting other authors like yourself and us so we can keep the project going!
Become part of our travel community:
cheers @livinguktaiwan @pinmapple thanks for curation,much appreciate it
Those carvings in the rocks are amazing. I cannot even imagine how it feels to stand in a place like this. It must be surreal..
Great post! I would enjoy even more photos from there 🙂
cheers @delishtreats thanks again for stopping by and enjoying my uploads, much appreciate it
!LOL
lolztoken.com
Me: I would say my biggest weakness is listening.
Credit: reddit
@grindle, I sent you an $LOLZ on behalf of gameexp
(1/6)
ENTER @WIN.HIVE'S DAILY DRAW AND WIN HIVE!
Looks like a very special monastery - full of history. I always marvel at those structures/caves hewed out of the mountainside. I wonder - were there many such places in Armenia? I would love to see your unique garden shed as now I wonder why it could possibly make the list. 😀
Armenia and Georgia too had some magnificent ancient buildings like this. Fantastic architecture. Unlike my shed which is just a wooden hut.
😀 Maybe one day I will travel those regions.
you will !
😀