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There is the curious history of this place of worship which was deemed to be demolished as all the other pagan sites in newly Christian Armenia. Due to some divine intervention in the form of a royal edict asked for by a beautiful member of the aristocracy, it survived the slaughter. In the 17th century it underwent another test of divine intervention when an earthquake struck. Well, this time it did not pass and the remnants of this beautiful piece of architecture lay on the ground till the contemptuous-of-God communists of Soviet Armenia decided to put the stones together and fill the missing ones with concrete. They did a very nice job I would say, for antichrists anyway!
Updated Aug 19, 2010
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Geghard is a little architectural wonder given its location up in the mountains. It has its "cave" portions and its "free-standing" portions. On top of this it has been around for a while in its present state unlike Noravank Monastery and this is easily discernable by the candle smoke plastered all over the premises. So the thing to do is paying attention to detail because despite its apparent "church-like" architecture it offers many keys to the distinctiveness of the Armenian Christian rite where the fresco has given way to the stone carving. Another unique "feature" are the stone cross Stellae so typical for the denomination that they number in the thousands and all unlike each other. Rumours (guide talk is not possible to determine as anything else) have it that there are between 20 000 and 40 000. Pick a number!
Updated Aug 19, 2010
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In the trees and bushes by the river passing Geghard Monastery there is a lot of stripes of cloths tied to the branches.
It is a religious custom saying that prayers will be answered if you tie a strip of cloth to a tree near the monastery.
Written Oct 15, 2005
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When entering a church it is very common that people light two candles (or one, or more). The candles are for sale in the church and cost around 40 drams each (in June 2003).
Written Oct 15, 2005
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Every 50 minutes or so a bus (250 drams each way) leaves from the Mercedes Benz saloon in a Yerevan suburb (among others marshrutkas 15 and 51 go there). It goes all the way to Goght from where it is about 3 km of an easy walk to Geghard. For going back you'll have to walk about km or two longer to a small shop where you'll see a bus or more buses parked and locals waiting for the departure. The bus to/from Goght also stops at Garni so ask the driver about the temple
Written Aug 19, 2004
Website: www.armeniainfo.am
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