The Church of the Holy Cross (Surb Khach) is located in Aparan. The church is also known as Kasagh basilica. Surb Khach belongs to the early Middle Ages, being one of the oldest churches throughout Armenia. Specialists date the building around 4-5 centuries – the dawn of the adoption of the Christian faith in Armenia. Initially, the basilica was located on the territory of the palace of the royal dynasty Arshakuni (Arshakidov). The building was partially restored in 1877.
The well-established transport infrastructure of Armenia allows to get to Kasagh Basilica by a private car or with the help of various travel companies which offer regular excursions and tours to different sights of the country. Due to the geographical location of Kasagh Basilica the trip will not seem long.
The high season in Armenia lasts for a long time due to the pleasant climate conditions. Warm days in Armenia start in March and last until late autumn; winter is usually snowless and not long. The high precipitation season is variable. The tourist season for Kasagh Basilica depends on the weather conditions.
Surb Khach Church in Aparan is known in literature as “Basilica of Kasagh”. The church continued to operate fully until the 40s of the 20th century, without interrupting activity even during the years of the Bolsheviks. Church was desecrated and used as an agricultural warehouse in the late 40s.
Famous archaeologists held a lot of excavations here. Toros Toramanyan, having studied the church and its territory for the first time with a group of archaeologists in the 1900s, concluded that the basilica was built on the basis of a pagan temple.
KASAGH BASILICA, APARAN
36.2
KASAGH BASILICA, APARAN
45.4
KASAGH BASILICA, APARAN
55.8
)
