Echmladzin is the center of the Armenian Church. The holiest place for the Armenian Apostoli Orthodox faith. The Cathedral was built in 480 and located in a walled compound with gardens and other structures. The highlight of our trip there was meeting a Priest from Indiana who got special permission for our group to visit an area of the Museum reserved for special dignitaries.

There were gorgeous church attires embroidered with gold and pearls, ritual vessels of silver, gold and ivory, embroidered coverlets and much more. Rare ancient coins, relics and ancient manuscripts. It was wonderful to see.

Then on to the Temple of Garni, the summer palace of King Trdat I, built in the first century AD. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1679, but has been restored. We discovered there was a big festival going on that day with a reenactment, jugglers, acrobats, and dancers dressed in ethnic outfits. …View image…

King Trdat I

child participant at the Temple of Garni, Armenia

This was an unexpected surprise…one of many…during this trip planned by MIR. MIR also had arranged for four young women to sing a capella at Garni. For obvious (noisy) reasons, we all bused to a nearby picnic grove and they entertained us there.

our young singers

Another jam-packed day in Yerevan…