Geghard Monastery

The Geghard Monastery or Geghardavank was one of the spiritual and educational centers of medieval Armenia, where a school, library, scriptorium and music academy functioned. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The monastery complex is located in the Kotayk region, on the continuation of the Yerevan-Garni road, 38 km from Yerevan.

The history of Geghard Monastery can be divided into two parts: up to the XIII century and after. The monastery was founded at the beginning of the 4th century by the first Armenian Catholicos Gregory the Illuminator. In 301, when Christianity was declared as a state religion in Armenia, the first churches and monasteries were founded, one of which was the Geghard Monastery. Until the 13th century, the monastery consisted of several churches and chapels cut into the rock, hundreds of caves and rock-cut cells. That is why the original name of the monastery was Ayrivank, which means "cave monastery".

In the 13th century, the monastery got a new lease of life, when Eastern Armenia was already liberated from the rule of the Seljuks. At that time, the main complex of the monastery was built. In 1215, the main church was built by the princely family of Zakaryans, and in 1215-1225, the narthex adjacent to the church was built. In the 1240s, the princely family of the Proshyans bought the monastery complex from the Zakaryans. The Prochyans built an architectural complex carved out of rocks next to the main church: two churches, an adjacent narthex, and a family tomb.

In the 13th century, the Saint Geghard(Holy Lance or Lance of Longinus) was transferred to the Geghard monastery. It represents the iron tip of the lance mentioned in the New Testament, with which a Roman soldier had pierced the side of crucified Jesus. The Lance of Longinus was brought with him to Armenia by Apostle Jude Thaddeus - one of the 12 apostles of Christ. He was one of the first preachers of Christianity in Armenia. Until 301, Saint Geghard was kept in the Christian communities of Armenia. In 301, when Christianity was declared the state religion in Armenia, one of the most significant relics of Christianity became the property of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Until the 13th century, it was kept in various monasteries in Armenia, after which it was kept in the Geghard Monastery for about 500 years. At that time, the name Ayrivank Monastery was changed to Geghard Monastery. In the 1760s, St. Geghard was transferred to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and is currently kept in the Etchmiadzin Museum.

The monastery was repeatedly destroyed by enemies and earthquakes, but each time it was repaired. Not only the main complex of the monastery has been preserved, but also many structures carved into the rock.