Jeep tour/ Churb Astvatsatsin Church in Yeghvard, Kosh Churches, Kosh Fortress, Aruch Temple

Surb Astvatsatsin Church in Yeghvard

Surb Stepanos Church in Kosh

 Surb Gevorg Church in Kosh

Surb Grigor Lusavorich Church in Kosh

Kosh Fortress

Aruch Temple

The first stop of the tour is the Surb Astvatsatsin Church in Yeghvard town. The church was built in 1301 on the occasion of the millennium of the declaration of Christianity as the state religion in Armenia. The church was built by Prince Azizbek; it is called a tomb, because the body of Azizbek's son rests here.

After visiting the Surb Astvatsatsin Church in Yeghvard, we will visit Kosh village, when we will continue our journey along interesting paths and off-road to unique Surb Stepanos Church of the 7th century, which is located immediately on the edge of a gorge. The church is built of yellowish-red and brown tuff and has rich decorative design.

In Kosh we will also visit Surb Gevorg Church of the 19th century and Surb Grigor Lusavorich Church of the 13th-14th centuries, then we will go to the Kosh fortress of the 13th century located on top of a hill/ easy hiking of about 500 m.

The last stop of the tour is the temple in Aruch village. According to the chronicle and the building inscription preserved on the eastern facade of the church, the Aruch temple was built by Prince Grigor Mamikonyan and his wife Heghine in the 60s of the 7th century. The church is a domed hall-type structure.

The church rests on a three-stage plinth. It consists of a prayer hall, a dome with a sail-shaped passage (now destroyed), sacristies on both sides of the eastern altar with two windows in each one and with secret places. Although the dome is missing, the temple with its grandeur dominates over the entire surrounding space.

The Surb Grigor Church is the largest construction  among the domed hall buildings of the early Middle Ages. It is built of black hewn tuff. Although the Surb Grigor Church has been repeatedly reconstructed during its long history, it has preserved its original appearance. For the first time it was restored by Khachatur Vardapet in the 15th century. Then, separate parts of the church were restored in 1946, 1958-1959 and 1964, and the surrounding area was improved. The ruins of a palace building of Prince Grigor Mamikonyan of the 7th century and a basilica building were discovered during excavations near the Aruch Temple in 1947-1952.

Departure: 10:00

Arrival: 19:00

Departure place: Hakob Hakobyan 1 str./ near Mergelyan Institute