Geghard monastery complex

The monastery complex of Geghard is one of the most prominent sights in Armenia. A tour of the ancient places of the country begins with this ancient monastery! The history of the Geghard Monastery dates back more than 1500 years. Geghard, being a unique cultural monument, is a world heritage of human culture. According to legend, the monastery was founded in the first decades after the adoption of Christianity as the state religion in 301 by Gregory the Illuminator. The first name of the monastery is Ayrivank, which in Armenian means “monastery of the cave.” According to legend, the Geghard monastery was named after the spear with which the Roman legionary pierced the body of Christ on the cross. Translated from Armenian, Geghard means “spearhead”, and Geghardavank, respectively, is “Spear Monastery”. Currently, the main relic of Geghard - a spear - is stored in the treasury of Etchmiadzin, the spiritual center of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Geghard monastery complex is undoubtedly a world heritage, which is why it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.