Private Tour to Khor Virap, Echmiadzin, St. Hripsime and St. Gayane, Zvartnots

What's included

What you'll see and do

1. Khor Virap

   Khor Virap – Armenian monastery, built in 642, translated from Armenian means “deep hole”. Khor Virap is one of the shrines of the Armenian Apostolic Church, a place of pilgrimage. The most interesting fact of this monastery is the fact that it was built on the site of the royal prison, where Gregory the Illuminator was previously imprisoned – the patron saint and the first official head of the Armenian Apostolic Church by the Armenian king for 13 years. From the territory of the monastery there is an unusual view of the biblical mountain Ararat.

   45 minutes here

2. Saint Hripsime Church

   The Temple of Saint Hripsime was founded in the 7th century by Catholicos Komitas I Aghtsetsi in the place of a sepulcher of Saint Hripsime. Since 2000 Saint Hripsime Temple has been included in UNESCO World Heritage List. Two prominent Armenian Cathlicoses are buried in the court yard of Saint Hripsime Temple. They are Catholicos Astvatsatur (1715-1725) and Catholicos Garaped II Oolnetzi (1725-1729).

   30 minutes here

3. Alex and Marie Manoogian Treasury House Museum

   he Treasury House Museum is a fine example of modern Armenian Architecture which encompasses the original and distinctive features of classical Armenian architecture.

   1 minutes here · Admission not included

4. Saint Gayane Church

   St. Gayane Temple was built in honor of St. Gayane in the VII century on the place of IV century chapel, which is one of the best monuments of Armenian architecture. The relics of Saint Gayane are kept in the southern wall of the temple, next to the altar niche. Above the western entrance, there was preserved the murals of the 17th century on the theme of the birth of Christ. Near the Saint Gayane Temple there is a special room where animals are sacrificed and stabbed from the time of St. Gregory the Illuminator. This rite is called – matah, which is customary to perform for any occasion: weddings, birth of a child, etc.

   30 minutes here

5. Armenian Apostolic Holy Church Mother See Holy Etchmiadzin

   The first Christian cathedral of Echmiadzin was founded in the IV century BC, whose name means “place of the descent of the Only Begotten.” A feature of the Cathedral is that in addition to the main altar in the eastern part, there is another altar in the middle, at the site of the descent of Christ. In the right-hand boundary of the Etchmiadzin Cathedral there is the Treasury Museum, where are kept relics, church clothes, embroidered with gold and pearls, catholicos’ staffs and crosses, numerous ritual objects made of gold, silver and ivory. On the territory of the monastery complex is also the residence of the Armenian patriarch – the Catholicos of all Armenians. Also here you will see many cross-stones, of which “Amenaprakich” (1279), and the cross-stone devoted to the victims of the 1915 genocide.

   45 minutes here

6. Zvartnots Temple

   Тhe magnificent Zvartnots Temple, which mean “Temple of Vigil Forces”, was built in the VII century. The temple was built for 20 years. Unfortunately, Zvartnots was destroyed by a powerful earthquake in the XX century and only its ruins remained. But even the ruins of this temple give us an idea of its rare and majestic beauty. Today the Zvartnots Temple is an archaeological reserve and museum founded in 1937, where you can see model-versions of the reconstruction of the temple, numerous sculptural fragments, impressive in size. The ruins of Zvartnots Temple are included in UNESCO as World Heritage Site.

   45 minutes here · Admission not included

Where it starts and ends

Options you can book

• 8-15 travelers, without guide

  PRIVATE TOUR: Khor Virap monastery, St. Hripsimeh and Gayaneh churches, Echmiadzin Mother Cathedral, Zvartnots temple Duration: 7 hours Car, Minibus Pickup included

• 1-3 travelers, without guide

  Private Tour to Khor Virap, Echmiadzin, St. Hripsime and St. Gayane, Zvartnots, without guide Duration: 7 hours Car, Sedan Pickup included

• 3-6 travelers, with a guide

  Private Tour to Khor Virap, Echmiadzin, St. Hripsime and St. Gayane, Zvartnots Duration: 7 hours Car, minivan Pickup included

• 4-7 travelers, without guide

  Private Tour to Khor Virap, Echmiadzin, St. Hripsime and St. Gayane, Zvartnots, without guide Duration: 7 hours Car, Minivan Pickup included

• 1-2 travelers, with a guide

  Private Tour to Khor Virap, Echmiadzin, St. Hripsime and St. Gayane, Zvartnots, with a guide Duration: 7 hours Car, Sedan Pickup included

• 7-15 travelers, with a guide

  PRIVATE TOUR: Khor Virap monastery, St. Hripsimeh and Gayaneh churches, Echmiadzin Mother Cathedral, Zvartnots temple Duration: 7 hours Car, Minibus Pickup included

Before you book

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Languages

ru, en

Ticket

Mobile Only

Runs on

Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun

Group size

Up to 15 travelers per booking

Operated by

Jan Armenia Tours

Know before you go

• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Photos