Armenia - Khor Virap

Khor Virap XVII c.

Sent by Emma and Staff from Yerevan, Armenia.

The Khor Virap (Armenian: Խոր Վիրապ, meaning deep pit or "deep well") is an Armenian Apostolic Church monastery located in the Ararat valley in Armenia, near the border with Turkey, about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) south of Artashat, Ararat Province. The monastery was host to a theological seminary and was the residence of Armenian Catholicos. (read further)

Armenia - Yerevan

ARMENIA
Yerevan and Ararat Mountain (5165 m).

Sent by Arsen from Yerevan, Armenia.

Yerevan (Armenian: Երևան [jɛɾɛˈvɑn]) is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country. It has been the capital since 1918, the thirteenth in the history of Armenia.

The history of Yerevan dates back to the 8th century BC, with the founding of the fortress of Erebuni in 782 BC by king Argishti I at the western extreme of the Ararat plain. Erebuni was "designed as a great administrative and religious centre, a fully royal capital." After World War I, Yerevan became the capital of the First Republic of Armenia as thousands of survivors of the Armenian Genocide settled in the area. The city expanded rapidly during the 20th century as Armenia became part of the Soviet Union. In a few decades, Yerevan was transformed from a provincial town within the Russian Empire, to Armenia's principal cultural, artistic, and industrial center, as well as becoming the seat of national government. (read further)

Armenia - Mountain Ararat

Mountain Ararat, 5,165 m.

Sent by Raneve from Yerevan, Armenia. Terima kasih (thanks). This is among the hardest to get. Raneve was back in USA late last year and sent me a card from Florida and told me she has mailed this card from Armenia. The postmarked on the stamps was on 28 April 2011 :) and took only about three weeks to reach Malaysia.

This is from Wikipedia : Mount Ararat is a snow-capped, dormant volcanic cone in Turkey. It has two peaks: Greater Ararat (the tallest peak in Turkey, and the entire Armenian plateau with an elevation of 5,137 m/16,854 ft) and Lesser Ararat (with an elevation of 3,896 m/12,782 ft).

The Ararat massif is about 40 km (25 mi) in diameter. The Iran-Turkey boundary skirts east of Lesser Ararat, the lower peak of the Ararat massif. It was in this area that by the Tehran Convention of 1932 a border change was made in Turkey's favor, permitting her to occupy the eastern flank of the massif.

Mount Ararat in Judeo-Christian tradition is associated with the "Mountains of Ararat" where according to the book of Genesis, Noah's ark came to rest. It also plays a significant role in Armenian nationalism and irredentism.

Mount Ararat is located in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey between Doğubayazıt and Iğdır, near the border with Iran, Armenia and Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan, between the Aras and Murat Rivers. Its summit is located some 16 km (10 mi) west of the Iran and 32 km (20 mi) south of the Armenian border. The Ararat plain runs along its northwest to western side.

Armenia - St. Sarkis Church

YEREVAN - St. Sarkis Church.

Sent by Alisa from St. Petersburg in Russia.

Note : Still looking for a postcard sent postmarked from Armenia.

This is from Wikipedia : Saint Sarkis Church (Armenian: Սուրբ Սարգիս Եկեղեցի, Surp Sarkis Yegeghetsi) or Saint Sargis church is an Armenian Apostolic Church in the Nor Nork district of Yerevan, Armenia. Construction began in 1998 was sponsored by Sarkis Gabrielian, an Armenian benefactor from New York.

The church was built according to the design of the architect Baghdasar Arzoumanian. The painting of the Mother-of-God with the Christ child for the altar is by the painter Grigor Khanjian. The newly erected St. Sarkis Church, with its architectural value, brings respect and honour to the authors of the project, to the builder-masters and to the Mother Church. Its circular form, polygonal and three-storeyed structure has been executed according to the traditional Armenian architectural style.

The height of the main dome is 23 metre. The prayer-hall is polygonal and bright, with a general area of 328 square metre. The chief altar is seen clearly from every corner. The pillars of the prayer-hall have the symbolic high reliefs of the 12 apostles. Niches are designed for candle-lighting. Special fans are placed above them to protect the walls of the church from smoke. The St. Sarkis is the first church in Armenia, which is heated by the heating system under the marble floor.