About this experience
Former village later incorporated into Yerevan - a treasure chest known to few locals. Kanaker hides little-known medieval temples, and here you can find courtyards where you can easily imagine life in the 19th century. On this walk, I will immerse you in Old Yerevan, talk about the dogma of our church, and reveal the meaning of ancient Armenian inscriptions on the walls and khachkars.
What to expect
Medieval treasures of Kanaker
You will see the 17th-century church of St. Jacob. Learn about the earthquake it endured, the reconstruction, trials during Soviet times, and re-consecration in the 90s. I will tell you about the pre-revolutionary school of the Ararat diocese. I will introduce you to the peculiar religious architecture characteristic of that era. And explain the significance of ancient inscriptions on the walls of buildings. You will also hear the story of the Church of the Holy Mother of God, included in the cultural heritage fund. It is currently inactive, so you will only see it from the outside. Nearby, I will show you a cemetery with khachkars, where we will talk about the special Armenian symbol - stone steles with a carved cross.
Special place of the Armenian Church in the Christian world
You will learn about the doctrinal disagreements between ancient Eastern Orthodox churches and other denominations, and what happened during the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD. I will explain how collective confession, the sacrament of communion, and other church rites are conducted in the Armenian Church, and how our worship differs from Byzantine Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism.
The world of the bygone era of the 19th century
You will see how Orthodox churches, medieval Armenian churches, and ancient khachkars blend harmoniously in the neighborhood, along with pre-revolutionary streets, museums, and Soviet buildings. During the walk, I will tell you about the life of Kanaker residents in the 19th and early 20th centuries. We will discuss how bread was baked, where children played, what women did, and what responsibilities men had.
Armenian-Russian relations and the house-museum of a writer
In addition, we will talk about the wars in which Armenia and Russia fought on the same side, and the long-standing friendship between our countries. I will show you monuments dedicated to those events. And we will end the tour at the house-museum of the great classic of Armenian literature, the founder of modern Armenian literary language Khachatur Abovian. Here you will learn about printing traditions before the 19th century and the reformer who first published a book not in ancient Armenian.
Organizational Details
- Museum tickets are not included in the tour price - approximately 2 euros per person
- Please dress according to the weather
- The Abovian museum is closed on Sundays
