Ushi Surb Sargis Monastery, Ohanavank Monastery, Saghmosavank Monastery, Armenian Alphabet Monument, snow area

•  Ushi Surb Sargis Monastery
• Saghmosavank Monastery complex
• Ohanavank Monastery
• Armenian Alphabet Monument
• snow area   

 This time we suggest winter tour to one of the attractive areas of Armenia. 

            The excursion will start from Surb Sargis Monastery, which is a large monastic complex located just outside Ushi village in the Aragatsotn region. It sits at the far side of what was once a settlement site from the 3rd - 1st millennia BC. The monastery is a well-known pilgrimage site, and was one of the centers of spiritual education in Armenia. According to the memorials, inscriptions and lithographs found during the excavations, the monument dates back to the 5th-17th centuries.

The complex includes Surb Sargis Church, which was built in the 5th century, and the main Catholic church, which was built in the 13th-14th centuries. The vestibule, bell tower, guest house and other auxiliary buildings were also part of the monastery complex. In 1827, after a devastating earthquake, the complex was neglected and over the years it has been covered with several meters of soil layer. Only in 1999-2001, thanks to excavations, it became possible to clean the monastery complex from that soil layer, and the church of the 5^th century was restored in 2004.

The next stop is the Hovhannavank Monastery, which, along with the Saghmosavank Monastery, is a major spiritual center of the Vachutyans, is located in the gorge of the Kasakh River, in Hovhannavank village. The monastery was built in the IV-XIII centuries. According to Arakel Davrizhetsi (XVII century), Hovhannavank was named so in honor of Hovhan, whom Ghazar Parpetsi appointed instead of himself as the abbot of the monastery. The oldest building of the monastery is dated back to the 5th century. It is a one-nave basilica, the wooden roof of which was replaced by a stone vaulted roof in the 6th century.

Then we will move to the Saghmosavank Monastery. This Armenian apostolic monastic complex is located near the Kasakh River above a high canyon. The Saghmosavank Monastery was founded in 1215, when Prince Vache I Vachutyan ordered  to  construct the Holy Sion Church here. Later, the temple was overgrown with outbuildings from the western and southern sides: a vestibule (1250), a book depository (1255) and the Surb Astvatsatsin Church  (1235). The word "saghmosavank" comes from the Armenian word "saghmon", meaning "psalm". This is the only monastery in the world named after the psalms resounding here. This monastery has excellent acoustics. The main temple of the Saghmosavank monastery complex belongs to the type of cross-domed churches. Powerful portals and small khachkars inserted into the walls enliven the monumental simplicity of the walls. It is a severe building of dark brown stone, each of its four sides represents a cruciform façade. And a dome on a cylindrical drum rises in the middle. In the Middle Ages Saghmosavank was famous as one of the centers of Christian culture in Armenia.

The last stop of the tour is the monument of the Armenian alphabet, i.e. giant stone letters dedicated to the founder of Armenia's alphabet. It is located in the village of Artashavan, it was built in 2005 on the occasion of the 1600th anniversary of the creation of Armenian alphabet. The monument includes sculptures of 39 giant, carved Armenian letters placed near the final resting place of the man who created the alphabet, Mesrop Mashtots, and monuments of other Armenian greats. Set against the backdrop of Mount Aragats, the letters and a statue of Mashtots pay tribute to the complex and unique language, a national point of pride of Armenia.

During the winter months and even until March-April, this area is covered with snow, so snow lovers can enjoy snow and play snowball here.

Departure: 10:00

Arrival: 19:00 

• Price for 1 person: 35000 AMD
• Price for 2-3 persons: 24000 AMD 
• Price for 4-10 persons: 12000 AMD
• Price for 11-20 persons: 8000 AMD
• Price for 21-30 persons: 7000 AMD