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Religious tour to Armenia: you will visit the monastery complex of Dadivank in Artsakh, Amaras monastery, Gandzasar monastery complex, the Cathedral of the Holy Christ of All Savior.

30. The monastery complex of Dadivank (Artsakh)

Dadivank is a medieval monastic complex in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh). It is located on the slope of Dadivan Mountain, on the left bank of the Tarter River.

According to the legend, the church was founded by St. Dadi, who preached Christianity in western Armenia and was a disciple of the apostle Tadevos (Thaddeus), one of the seventy disciples of Christ. During the excavations that have been carried out within the framework of the reconstruction of Dadivank, on July 21, 2007, the relics of the Apostle St. Dade were found under the tomb of one of the churches of the monastery complex. There is also another tomb, not characteristic of Armenian Christian traditions: the person buried there sits on a chair. Now this tomb is located in Stepanakert Museum.

It is known that in XII century Armenian thinker and writer Mkhitar Gosh lived in Dadivank while working on his famous “Datastanagirk”, the first code of law in medieval Armenia. 

31. Amaras Monastery

According to Armenian historians, the church of the Amaras monastery was founded by Grigory the Illuminator at the beginning of the IV century. Grigory, who died in 338 during his mission to spread Christianity in Aghvanka, is buried in the eastern part of the church. At the beginning of the fifth century, Mesrop Mashtots opened the first school of Artsakh in the monastery of Amaras.

According to the Armenian historian of the 7th century, Movses Kaghankatvatsi in 489 King Aranchagik Vachan III builds a chapel over the forgotten grave of Gregory and restores the church built by Gregory the Illuminator. Since V century Amaras has become one of the major religious centers. 

32. Gandzasar Monastery Complex

Gandzasar monastic complex is located near the village of Vank in the Martakert region. The monastery complex includes the Church of St. John the Baptist. Gandzasar's Cathedral contains or contained in the past a key Christian relic: head of St. John the Baptist (in Armenian - Hovhannes Mkrtich).

The construction of the church began in 1216 and ended in 1238. The church was consecrated in 1240 on the day of the great festival of Vardavar, during which Nerses the Catholicos of Aghvank, Vanakan Vardapet, episcopes, 700 priests and many other leaders of the Armenian Apostolic Church were present.

In the monastery there was a rich manuscript, a school where high-value manuscripts were created, spiritual figures trained, which contributed to the development of intellectual and cultural life in Hacheni (Artsakh) and surrounding areas.

33. Holy Savior Cathedral (Shushi)

Holy Savior Cathedral is an Armenian cathedral in the city of Shushi, built in 1868-1887. After the monastery complex Gandzasar it is the second important spiritual center of Artsakh. It consists of the church (1868-1887) and the bell tower (1858). Currently, the residence of the head of Artsakh Diocese is located here.