CHARITY TOUR TO GARNAHOVIT, MASTARA, DASTADEM AND ARUCH

EXCLUSIVE TOUR TO GARNAHOVIT VILLAGE WHERE ONE WAY TOUR TOURISTS JOIN US TO SHOW CHILDREN IN THE VILLAGE THEIR KINDNESS.

We are planning to donate STATIONERY to the children on the eve of the school year. During the tour we will visit:

-DASHTADEM FORTRESS
This popular tourist attraction in Armenia is full of mysteries. The name of the fortress and the village where it is located in Armenian means “in front of the field”. The exact time of when it was found is unknown. It is assumed that the construction of the fortress was carried out in the 7th-10th centuries. Dashtadem fortress functioned until the 16th century despite the fact that it was repeatedly subjected to severe destruction. Archaeological excavations were conducted here in different years. As a result it was discovered that the base of the Dashtadem was carved in the rock. In addition, subterranean passage, huge platform and water storage tank were found there. Also there were cross stones, various items made of clay, bronze and glass among the artifacts.

– ARUCH CATHEDRAL
There is a temple with an unusual architecture in the Aruch village located on the slope of the famous mountain Aragats. The royal army stayed here in winter since 5th century. The residence of Armenian prince Grigor Mamikonyan was in this place later in 7th century. He and his wife Elena built the Aruch Cathedral and consecrated it in honor of St. Gregory the Illuminator. You can see the open sky instead of the destroyed dome as a harmonious continuation of the ancient frescos depicted on the walls. There are ruins of the chapel, basilica of Katogike and palace near the temple where once there were halls with columns and gallery. All of these objects had been built at different times. Aruch is a significant historical monument of Armenia.

– CHURCH OF ST. HOVHANNES(JOHN), MASTARA
The church of St. Hovhannes also called Mastara is located in Mastara village. According to the historical sources relics of St. John the Baptist brought by Grigor the Illuminator from Caesarea, are buried here. That’s why the village is called Mastara (“mas” is translated from Armenian as “relics”). According to the inscriptions preserved on the south and eastern walls of the church it was built in VII century by priest Grigor under the Bishop Teodoros Gnuni. However, judging by architecture of the church it was built earlier, in the V century, and in VII it was only reconstructed. The church of St Hovhannes in Mastara was reconstructed several times. In 891 its southern entry was overhauled by Sargis, son of the priest Artavazd. In XVIII century a wall was erected around the church and it served as a fortress for a long time. In 1889 the wall was demolished by local priest’s order who also initiated reconstruction works in the church.