Hayastan am Bob Markarian Lawrence. In April and May of 2007 I journeyed back to Armenia (Hayastan in the Armenian language) to reconnect. My grandmother, great-aunt, great-uncle and great-grandmother were the only members of my immediate family to escape the gen

Armenia - Churches and Monasteries

USA | Sunday, 4 March 2007 | Views [1411]

Mughni, St. Gevorg (St. George) church. The village of Mughni is situated 1,5 km to north-east of Ashtarak town. St.Gevorg church of the village is very famous, as according to the legend it was built over the relics of St. Gevorg. The church is of domed-basilica style and was built in the 17th century. The external decoration is notable with its black and orange combination of tufa.

This monastery has a deep well (khor virap) where St. Gregory the Illuminator was cast by King Trdat III. The king later relented and in 301 adopted Christianity as the national religion making Armenia the first country to do so. St. Gregory became the first catholicos (head) of the Armenian Orthodox Church.

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Hovhanavank. Hovhanavank monastery bears the name of John the Baptist. The oldest church here is the one-naved basilica built in the 5th century. In the 13th century under the patronage of Vachutian dukes new buildings were added. The portal of the main church, which is embellished with evangelical motifs, is of great interest.

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Hayastan am Bob Markarian Lawrence. In April and May of 2007 I journeyed back to Armenia (Hayastan in the Armenian language) to reconnect. My grandmother, great-aunt, great-uncle and great-grandmother were the only members of my immediate family to escape the gen

Armenia - Churches and Monasteries

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