Private: Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery – Kotayk, Armenia

EXPERIENCE

This fantastic tour will introduce you to the Pagan history of Armenia, whilst also showing you the later spread of Christianity which occurred in the country. Your first stop will be to the Garni Temple (77 A.D.), which is the only standing temple in the whole post-Soviet area. Garni gracefully stands on a high plateau overlooking the Azat River gorge.

Whilst here you will also see the Roman bath house with its mysterious mosaic which is made out of 30,000 pieces of natural stones, as well as the ruins of the royal palace from the 3rd century A.D. The next stop on your the tour is the monastic complex of Geghard. Translated into English as “Monastery of the Holy Lance”, it refers to the lance with which Longinus pierced Jesus.

Towards the end of your tour, later brought to Armenia and kept in the Geghard monastery for 5 centuries. The most astonishing part is the virtue of the architect, who cut the church right into the solid rock whilst simultaneously considering and applying the rules of Armenian architecture.

HIGHLIGHTS

Visit the Pegan Temple of Garni, the only standing Greco-Roman temple in Armenia
Explore Geghard Monastery ,
Visit the Geghard Monastory, where the spear Jesus was pierced with was kept for five centuries

Discover more exciting & fun things to do in Kotayk