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Geghard Geghard MonasteryMonastery

7 km to the north-east of Garni, further up the Azat river gorge is the Geghard, famous for its rock architecture and the church carved inside the rock.

The exact time when the church was founded is not known; most probably Ayrivank (i.e. the Cave Monastery) was in this place in the beginning of the 4th century, which was

later renamed into Geghard.

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Today's name of the church comes from a legend. According to it a spear (geghard in Armenian) was kept here with which Jesus Christ was pierced on

the cross by one of the Roman legionaries guarding him.

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The Geghard Monastery makes

a strong impression with

its rough simplicity and

splendor seemingly

borrowed from surrounding

scenery - equally severe and beautiful.

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The monastery is as majestic from inside as from outside.One of the monastery's outside walls is covered with small hollows where the

visitors try to throw stones for luck.

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