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Official name: Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley
Type
Cultural
Criteria
ii
Designated
2000 (24th session)
Reference no.
960
Region
Western Asia
Plan of Geghard, with identification of the main structures.
Geghard (Armenian: Գեղարդ, meaning "spear") is a medieval monastery in the Kotayk province of Armenia, being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with enhanced protection[1] status.
While the main chapel was built in 1215, the monastery complex was founded in the 4th century by Gregory the Illuminator at the site of a sacred spring inside a cave. The monastery had thus been originally named Ayrivank (Այրիվանք), meaning "the Monastery of the Cave". The name commonly used for the monastery today, Geghard, or more fully Geghardavank (Գեղարդավանք), meaning "the Monastery of the Spear", originates from the spear which had wounded Jesus at the Crucifixion, allegedly brought to Armenia by Apostle Jude, called here Thaddeus, and stored amongst many other relics. Now it is displayed in the Echmiadzin treasury.
The spectacular towering cliffs surrounding the monastery are part of the Azat River gorge, and are included together with the monastery in the World Heritage Site listing. Some of the churches within the monastery complex are entirely dug out of the cliff rocks, others are little more than caves, while others are elaborate structures, with both architecturally complex walled sections and rooms deep inside the cliff. The combination, together with numerous engraved and free-standing khachkars is a unique sight, being one of the most frequented tourist destinations in Armenia.
Most visitors to Geghard also choose to visit the nearby pagan Temple of Garni, located further down the Azat River. Visiting both sites in one trip is so common that they are often referred to in unison as Garni-Geghard.
^"UNESCO grants Monastery of Geghard status of Enhanced protection". armenpress.am. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
Geghard (Armenian: Գեղարդ, meaning "spear") is a medieval monastery in the Kotayk province of Armenia, being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain...
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consist of tunnels converging into a single rock. Examples include: The Geghard monastery, Kotayk Province, Armenia The Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo,...
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of Avag. He also built the "Rock-cut church with spring" c.1240 in the Geghard Monastery. The Kirants Monastery was also probably founded by Avag, who...
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polyphonic choir was formed. Subsequently they produced two CDs: Arevagal in Geghard and Komitasian Holy Mass. The choir held concerts in Yerevan, and performed...
shown entering the gates of Horomos Monastery. Zakarid gavit room, in Geghard Monastery, 1215-1225. The reconquered regions of historical Armenia had...
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