Jeep Tour: Surb Astvatsatsin Church and Chapel of Surb Khach in Vardablur, Tricolor Lakes in Vardablur, Gtevank and Hnevank Monasteries, Arevatsag Gorge, Surb Hovhannes Monastery in Ardvi, Odzi Port, Odzun Monastery

• Surb Astvatsatsin Church in Vardablur
• Chapel of Surb Khach in Vardablur
• Tricolor Lakes in Vardablur
• Gtevank Monastery
• Hnevank Monastery
• Arevatsag Gorge
• Tsitskar 
• Subr Hovhannes Monastery in Ardvi
• Odzi Port
• Odzun Monastery

We have heard a lot about the miracles and amazing nature of the Lori region, and now we are going to discover and see them with our own eyes.

The first stop of the tour is Vardablur village. Here we will visit the Church of Surb Astvatsatsin (XIX century) and the Chapel of Surb Khach (XII century), as well as the miracle of nature, the picturesque tricolor lakes, which attract visitors with their unusual beauty. 

The next stop is the ruins of the Gtevank Monastery (VI centurty). The lower rows of masonry of the walls without facing stones have been preserved. The remains of the construction are evidence of the fact that it is a reproduction of the composition of the church in Kurtan village in a smaller size. The prayer hall of the Gtevank church is less elongated. As is seen from the surviving traces of a pilaster on the northern wall, the ceiling of the hall in the central part was strengthened by a spring arch. The entrance to the sacristy with a semi-cylindrical vault opened in the prayer hall,  there was a niche in the eastern wall instead of an apse. The existence of an external hall in addition to the apse is evidenced by three windows of the western wall and the remains of walls in the west. There is a small medieval cemetery with preserved tombstones on the southern side of the church.  

Our next stop is the Hnevank Monastery complex, located to the east of the village of Kurtan, on the right bank of the Dzoraget River. The cross-domed church was built in the 7th century from pure hewn felsite; outside it has a rectangular shape, inside it has three apses, in the corners there are sacristies.

From Hnevank Monastery we will drive to the Arevatsag gorge along the Dzoraget River surrounded by wonderful nature. On the way we will admire the most beautiful landscapes of the Lori region. We will see here the popular Tsitskar rock and the unforgettable view to the river and gorge. Here we can relax, eat and take pictures.

Then we will continue our path to the Surb Hovhannes Monastery in Ardvi (another name is Srbanes Monastery or Hovhan Odznetsi Monastery), which was built in the 8th-17th centuries. It consists of two adjoining churches, a bell tower and monastic constructions. In front of the altar of the northern church there is a large gravestone of Hovhannes G. Odznetsi. In the XIII century, a hall with a large arched opening was added to the western facade of the church. A separate-standing bell tower with a six-column rotunda was built to the south of the churches in the XVII century. The ruins of cells and farm constructions are seen on the walled territory of the monastery, and there is a medieval cemetery with khachkars to the west of the complex. The monastery was restored by Stepanos Tarinyan in the XIX century and by Melikset Kalantaryan in 1902.

Odzi Port is one of the natural monuments of Ardvi. The body of church and political figure Hovhan Odznetsi is buried here. One of the many miracles created by him is associated with the legend of Odzi Port. Two ugly dragons came to the village once, when Odznetsi was serving the holy liturgy. Hovgan Odznetsi crossed them, and the dragons froze until the end of the liturgy. Having finished the liturgy, Hovhan struck the heads of the dragons with his stick, and the dragons turned to stone. This place is called "Odzi Port" (Snake Port). Water springs up from here, which as they say has healing properties.

Our last point is Odzun, which is located on a high plateau on the left bank of the Debed gorge, 8 km southwest of Alaverdi town. The village and its surroundings are rich in medieval architectural monuments. In the center of the village there is a domed basilica of the 5th-6th centuries. It has a pronounced commonality with the early medieval three-nave basilicas. The construction of the church is traditionally assigned to Hovnan Odznetsi, however, researchers do not consider this fact to be reliable.

The architectural composition and artistic style of church's decoration is close to the constructions of the end of the 6th century. It was known as the Church of Surb Astvatsatsin, Surb Nshan, Surb Hovhannes, Khachgond, Khachgund. The last name is associated with the name of priest Khachgund buried in the yard of the church, in whose memory an inscribed ornamented cross-stone was erected in 1291. Near the church there is a stele of the early Christian period, a beautiful monument symbolizing the victory of Christianity in Armenia.

            Departure: 10:00

Arrival: 21:00

Departure place: Hakob Hakobyan str. 1/ next to the Mergelyan Institute