Geghard

Geghard (Armenian Գեղարդ ) is an Armenian monastery at the entrance of the Upper Azat Valley in the province of Kotayk. It is since 2000 a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is a UNESCO partnership with the Abbey of Lorsch in Hesse.

The convent was founded in the 4th century AD on the site of a pagan source is the Holy Gregory, the patron saint of the Armenian Apostolic Church attributed. Destroyed by the Arabs in the 9th century, it was built in 1215 again. The unabridged name Geghardavank (Armenian Գեղարդավանք ) means Monastery of the Holy Lance. This relic is meant to have brought the Apostle Thaddeus into the country. Today, it is kept in Echmiadzin.

The monastery is one of the major products of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Characteristic are the partially excavated in the rock spaces or the use of caves. Peculiarities of Armenian art, such as the Gavit or khachkar are also found here.

Dome in the Proschjan - crypt

Indoors the monastery

Exterior of the Old rock monastery with khachkar