The tour begins with an excursion in Yerevan the history of which dates back to the 8th century BC. Some parts of the city have preserved its 3000-year history. During the tour, you’ll see the Republic Square, House of Opera and Ballet, Victory Park, where the sculptor of “Mother Armenia” is situated.
Then we’ll continue our tour to the Etchmiadzin cathedral which is 20 kilometers away from Yerevan. Etchmiadzin is known as the center of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the First Christian Church in the world. According to the legend, “Jesus Christ came down from heaven to show the site where the church was constructed. Etchmiadzin is translated from Armenian as the “Descent of the only-begotten”. The church was built in 301-303 under the patronage of the Armenian king Trdat 3 and the first Armenian Catholicos St Gregory the Illuminator.
Then we’ll visit the Cathedral Treasury where the relics of the Armenian Apostolic church are kept. We’ll return to Yerevan having a stop at the ruins of Zvartnots temple - the pearl of medieval Armenian architecture of the 7th century.
Later we’ll visit the main Orthodox Church of Yerevan - the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin built-in Kanaker, which was the northern suburb of Yerevan. In 1913-1916, it was known as the Church of St Alexander Nevsky prince with a Cossack regiment. The 100th anniversary of the most famous Orthodox church in Armenia was celebrated on October 14, 2012. Only recently, researchers found out that the date of its creation goes back to 1912. They found that the temple is consecrated as Pokrovski.
Overnight in a hotel in Yerevan.
*Dinner in a national traditional restaurant.