Unique Events

Grape Festival on Assumption Day

A long time ago in Armenia, a solemn ceremony took place every August in the vineyards, where the priest would walk in a procession carrying a pair of scissors in his right hand, and a cross in his left hand, and he would bless the vineyard and the grapes. After the ceremony, best wishes were exchanged among the parishioners for increased bounty. It was also customary to set aside a portion for the birds as well, for whom the grapes were hung from high perches, such as a lamppost or a stone monument.


Mid August was the beginning of harvest time, a time of rebirth and regeneration. The priest would ask God to bless the vines on which the grapes ripened, and would beseech Him to save the vineyards from evil in the form of hail, frost, high winds, and harmful insects.
This annual ritual had been repeated every year since the early settling of Armenia, much before Armenia accepted Christianity as its official religion in 301A.D. It was customary for all religions at that time to present the first fruits and nuts to the temple, so they would be blessed and then distributed by the pagan priests.

Vardavar

On the 98th Day after Easter (Sunday) in the Eastern Arthodox Church, Armenians celebrate Vardavar, which is also known as Vartavar or Vardavar. Vardavar is a special celebration where anyone (not just children) is free to soak others with water from spray guns, hoses or even buckets. It is not uncommon to see people pouring buckets of water from upper windows or balconies on unsuspecting people walking below them. The festival is extremely popular among children, as it is one day where they can get away with pulling pranks. It is also a means of refreshment on the usually hot and dry summer days of July. Although now celebrated as a Christian tradition, Vardavar's history goes back to pagan times.
The ancient festival was associated with the goddess Astghik - the goddess of water, beauty, love and fertility. As it usually falls in July, it is, of course, also associated with the first harvests of the year. The festivities associated with the observance of Astghik were named "Vardavar" because of the fact that Armenians offered roses to her ("vart" is the Armenian for rose) as part of the celebration.

Why visit Armenia?

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

Armenia is one of the ancient countries in the world with more than 7000 years of history with a great historical inheritance, unique nature and culture. The first signs of population in this country are discovered on the hills of mount Artin and belong to the Paleolithic times.

Erebouni BC

In 9th century B.C. the people of the Armenian plateau unite into a single state ruled by the king of Urartu super-state. The first mentioning of a country named "Armenia" is found among the countries captured by Persian king Darius 522-486 B.C..

Erebouni BC

One of the glorious kings in Armenian History was Tigranes the Great (Tigran II) under whom the country became, for a short time, the strongest state east of the Roman Republic.Tigranes was born around 140 BC and was the son or nephew of either Artavazdes I or Tigranes I.Tigranes the Great represented the Artaxiad Royal House. He was married to Cleopatra, daughter of Mithridates VI of Pontus. He was involved in many battles during his reign. He fought battles against the Persians, Seleucid empires, and Roman Republic.

Coin of Tigran The Great 1st century BC

Creation of the Armenian alphabet in the 5th century by an Echmiadzin monk Mesrop Mashtots became a great contribution for whole nation. It is also worth mentioning that Georgian alphabet was also invented by Mesrop Mashtots.

Armenian Alphabet

Armenia homes remarkable monuments of nature, which belong to a history of human civilization covered by myths and legends: Biblical Mount Ararat, Mount Aragats, the pearl of mounts-Lake Sevan.

Many outstanding historical events have taken place on this ancient land and probably the most important has been the adoption of Christianity in 301 A.D., thus making Armenia first nation officially proclaiming Christianity as a state religion.

St.Etchmiadzin 301-303 AD

You can view the beauty of the landscape and nature of Alpine meadows and mountain ranges. Armenia is considered to be a museum under the open sky with more than 4 thousand works of architecture on its small area. It is enough to mention that acording to Bible first tourist to visit Armenia was Noah, whos Ark landed on the top of Mountain Ararat.

Mountain Ararat

Armenia has always been an important centre of trade between east and west and this has helped mould the culture and civilisation of the country. As the meeting place between the two worlds, Armenia has witnessed many battles, war campaigns and invasions of Persians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Mongols and Turks. "Despite the fact that Armenia is situated on one of the most important trade routes between Asia and Europe, the country has experienced more misery and suffering than benefit from its strategic situation.

Armenia on the trade routes between Asia and Europe

When the west, in the form of Alexander The Great , the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the crusades, advanced eastward, or when the Persians, the Arabs and the Turks marched toward Europe, the path went through Armenia." Armenia became a pendulum between east and west in the never ending conflicts, caught in the crosscurrent of different cultures. On the whole, independent periods in Armenia have been marked by a western alliance.

Amberd Fortress 11th century

The topography of the country, as well as its geographical situation, has been a decisive factor in its history. Mountainous regions are more often than not home to warrior races determined to defend their freedom, as seen in countries such as Switzerland, Montenegro and the Caucasus. If it were not for their mountains the Armenians could not have survived as a nation and would have met with the destiny of many vanished cultures, who have disappeared from the pages of history or lost their identity as a nation, as did the Assyrians.