Sunny Armenia

Photo Sketches

October has arrived, and albeit delayed, the usual autumn weather has come to Russia with its drizzling rains and gloomy skies. During this time, our memories of trips to ever-sunny places are especially warm...

And today the Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of Holy Hierarch Gregory of Armenia, Enlightener of Armenia.

Darya Parmenova, a regular contributor to Pravoslavie.ru, brought back some photo sketches from her September trip to sunny Armenia. She writes: "I wanted to preserve in my memory the vividness of the faceted Armenian architecture and the solid lacework of stone carvings, the expressive eloquence of ancient frescoes, the resonant coolness of church interiors, and the southern sun on mountain paths, city streets, and in cozy courtyards entwined with grapevines."

Sunny Armenia

Photo Sketches

Sevanvank Monastery

In Agartsin Monastery

Agartstin Monastery

Gazing at the fruit orchards and vineyards (Ararat province)

A sketch of Hor Virap Monastery

Hor Virap Monastery, built on the place of the imprisonment of St. Gregory, Enlightener of Armenia

Hor Virap. A monastery at the foot of Mt. Ararat

At the ruins of a cave church (Gerard Monastery)

The cupola of Gerard Monastery

Fragment of a copy of the fresco called, “The Bosom of Abraham”. Akhtala, church of the Most Holy Mother of God, 13th c. (National Gallery of Armenia)

Fragment of a copy of the fresco called, “The Bosom of Abraham”. Akhtala, church of the Most Holy Mother of God, 13th c. (National Gallery of Armenia)

Fragment of the fresco, “Christ on the Judgment seat of the High Priests”. Akhtala, Church of the Most Holy Mother of God, 13th c. (National Gallery of Armenia)

Fragment of a copy of the fresco, “Nativity of Christ”. Akhtala, Church of the Most Holy Mother of God, 13th c. (National Gallery of Armenia)

Sts. Shio of Mgvime, John of Zedazeni, and Evagrius of Shio-Mgvime Monastery (copy of a fresco). Akhtala, Church of the Holy Mother of God, 13th century (National Gallery of Armenia)

The Church of Martyr Rhipsimia (Vagarshapat)

The village of Gosh

Khachkar (Armenian “cross-stone”)

Khachkar

Fragment, Khachkar

Fragment, Khachkar

A bird-shaped lampada

Cathedral church of Echmiadzin

The bell tower of the Cathedral church of Echmiadzin

Wing of the Cathedral church of Echmiadzin

Fragment relief, Cathedral church of Echmiadzin

Old Dilidjan

Kond Quarter—a remainder of old Erevan in the center of the modern metropolis

In the center of Erevan (Kond Quarter).

A Erevan yard (Kanaker-Zeitun region) district

Chapel of Apostle Ananias (at left), where his grave is preserved. Erevan

A vineyard by a multi-story building (Erevan)

An old courtyard. Erevan, Kond Quarter

On the outskirts of Goshavank Monastery.