Levon’s Divine Underground

Levon’s Divine Underground—also known as ""Levon’s Cave"" or ""Levon’s Underground Museum""—is a remarkable testament to craftsmanship and devotion. It is located in the village of Arinj in Kotayk Province and was begun in 1985 by Levon Arakelyan. This unique cave was inspired by a simple household request: Levon's wife, Tosya, asked him to dig a potato cellar. But as he began, Levon experienced a vision—a voice from the mist instructed him to keep digging, no matter what. Motivated by this vision, Levon devoted himself fully to the task, working solely with a chisel and hammer—refusing to use electric tools in favor of traditional, manual methods. The cave reaches a depth of 21 meters and spans a total area of 300 square meters. It includes six rooms, connected by narrow staircases. The temperature remains constant year-round at about 10°C. Levon passed away in 2009. Since then, the underground museum has continued to operate under Tosya’s care. In the courtyard, visitors can see planters made from leftover carved stone, along with two portraits—one of Levon, the other of Tosya holding a potato. Levon had planned to expand the cave with 74 more rooms. Although he never completed this vision, the underground remains a powerful symbol of Armenian artistry, perseverance, and faith.