RU-6165577

It already happened twice to get Armenian cards sent as officials from Russia. I definitely don't mind and in both cases the cards were great. 

Beautiful view of Khor Virap Monastery with Mount Ararat in background.

RU-6165577, sent by Anastasia. 

The Khor Virap (meaning «deep dungeon») monastery is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Armenia. It stands before the snowcapped flanks of Mount Ararat offering a spectacular view of the mountain, the national symbol of Armenia.

It is where Grigor Luisavorich (St. Gregory the Illuminator) was imprisoned for 13 years before curing King Trdat III of a disease. This caused the conversion of the king and Armenia into the first officially Christian nation in the world in the year 301. To this day you can visit the underground chamber he was imprisoned, located in the nondescript St. Gevorg Chapel apart from the main church. - in: http://www.atb.am/en/armenia/sights/christ/khorvirap/

Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin - Armenia

I've to confess that I don't know much about Armenia but these 2 cards really make me to wish to go there. These monasteries are wonderful. Both are classified as UNESCO WHS. Sini did a great job choosing the cards and the stamps. 

These two Byzantine monasteries in the Tumanian region from the period of prosperity during the Kiurikian dynasty (10th to 13th century) were important centres of learning. Sanahin was renown for its school of illuminators and calligraphers. The two monastic complexes represent the highest flowering of Armenian religious architecture, whose unique style developed from a blending of elements of Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture and the traditional vernacular architecture of the Caucasian region. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/777

Photo by Levon Bakhshyan

Haghpat Monastery, also known as Haghpatavank, is a medieval monastery complex in Haghpat, Armenia.

The monastery was founded by Queen Khosrovanuysh, wife of the Bagratid king Ashot III, probably in 976.

The largest church in the complex, the Cathedral of Surb Nishan, probably begun in 976, was completed in 991 by king Smbat. It is a typical example of tenth century Armenian architecture. 

There are several other structures at the site as well. There is the small domed Church of Sourb Grigor (St. Gregory ) from 1005. Two side chapels were added to the original church; the larger one built in the beginning of the 13th century and the smaller, known as "Hamazasp House", built in 1257. In 1245, a three-story tall free-standing belltower was constructed. Other 13th century additions include the chapel of Sourb Astvatsatsin, the scriptorium, and a large refectory which is outside of the monastery limits.

The monastery has been damaged many times. Sometime around 1130, an earthquake destroyed parts of Haghpat Monastery and it was not restored until fifty years later. It also suffered numerous attacks by armed forces in the many centuries of its existence and from a major earthquake in 1988. Nevertheless, much of the complex is still intact and stands today without substantial alterations. - in: wikipedia

Photo by Levon Bakhshyan

Sanahin Monastery is an Armenian monastery founded in the 10th century in the Lori Province of Armenia.

The name Sanahin literally translates from Armenian as "this one is older than that one", presumably representing a claim to having an older monastery than the neighbouring Haghpat Monastery. The two villages and their monasteries are similar in many ways, and lie in plain view of each other on a dissected plateau formation, separated by a deep "crack" formed by a small river flowing into the Debed river.

As with Haghpat, Sanahin is frequented by an increasing number of tourists, due to its recent inclusion on the itineraries of a great number of Armenian tour agencies, the beauty of its monastery complex matching that of Haghpat's. The complex belongs to the Armenian Apostolic Church with numerous khachkars (stones with elaborate engravings representing a cross) and bishop gravesites scattered throughout it. - in: wikipedia

Kecharis Monastery - Armenia

Saint Grigor's Church is Kecharis Monastery main temple. The image on this card is a few years old because today this church and other structures of the monastery are fully restored. 

Kecharis is a medieval Armenian monastic complex dating back to the 11th to 13th centuries, located 60 km from Yerevan, in the ski resort town of Tsakhkadzor. Nestled in the Bambak mountains, Kecharis was founded by a Pahlavuni prince in the 11th century, and construction continued until the middle of the 13th century. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Kecharis was a major religious center of Armenia and a place of higher education.

The domes of the two main churches were heavily damaged in an earthquake in 1927. The buildings were conserved during the period of the Armenian SSR, and rebuilding work started in the 1980s. A series of nationwide problems led to a halt in the rebuilding for about a decade as the 1988 Armenian earthquake hit, the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the Nagorno-Karabakh War broke out, and Armenia was blockaded by its two allied Turkic neighbors. Rebuilding work resumed at Kecharis in 1998 and finished in 2000. The restarted work was paid for by an Armenian donor from Vienna, Vladimir Harutyunian, in memory of his parents Harutyun and Arsenik. - in: wikipedia

RU-3178486

Look what I've got a few days ago as an official from Russia!! A new UNESCO site from.... Armenia! How cool is this? It was a great surprise. 

The monastery of Geghard is located in the Kotayk province of Armenia, being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.

Photo by Tigran Mangasaryan 

RU-3178486, sent by Alevtina.

The Geghard complex is an exceptionally complete and well-preserved example of a medieval Armenian monastic foundation in a remote area of great natural beauty at the head of the Azat valley, surrounded by towering cliffs. It contains a number of churches and tombs, most of them cut into the rock, which illustrate the very peak of Armenian medieval architecture and decorative art, with many innovatory features that had a profound influence on subsequent developments in the region. It was founded in the 4th century, according to tradition by St Gregory the Illuminator. The first monastery was destroyed by Arabs in the 9th century, but it was flourishing again by the 13th century. The monastery was famous because of the relics that it housed, the most celebrated the spear that wounded Christ on the Cross. Relics of the Apostles Andrew and John were donated in the 12th century and pious visitors made numerous grants of land, money, manuscripts and so on over the succeeding centuries. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/960

Touchnote armenian cards

These touchs sent my Paula are great. Although these cards are great i won't consider them for my Unesco collection. Initially i thought it would be great way to get some hard-to-get places but then i realized this would be too easy and not so exciting as getting real cards. But they're a nice way to get identify the places and to know a bit more about them.

 Photo by Butcher

Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin  is a 4th century Armenian church in the town of Ejmiatsin, Armenia. It is also the central cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Etchmiadzin Cathedral is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Etchmiadzin Cathedral is the oldest state-built church in the world. The original vaulted basilica was built in 301-303 by Saint Gregory the Illuminator when Armenia became the first officially Christian country in the world. Gregory had converted King Tiridates III and members of his court. - in: wikipedia

Photo by Fpga

Haghpat Monastery is a medieval Armenian monastery complex in Haghpat, Armenia.

Described as a "masterpiece of religious architecture and a major center of learning in the Middle Ages", this venerable institution of the Armenian Apostolic Church was placed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1996.

The monastery was founded by Saint Nishan (Sourb Nshan) in the 10th century during the reign of King Abas I.

The largest church in the complex, the Cathedral of St. Nishan, was built from 967-991. It is a typical example of tenth century Armenian architecture. - in: wikipedia

More Unesco cards

Niina "bessie" pruposed me a unesco private trade, i've sent her 3 spanish unesco cards and she sent me these from Albania, Armenia and Lebanon. I'll post here the albanian and armenian cards.

Gjirokastra and Berat are was among the few Albanian cities preserved in the 1960s and 1970s from modernizing building programs. Both cities gained the status of "museum town" and are Unesco World Heritage Sites since 2005 as "a rare example of well-preserved Ottoman cities".

"Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin and the archaeological remains at Zvartnots are World Heritage Sites in Armenia. They provide a glimpse into the evolution of the architecture of Armenian churches. It is from these medieval churches that the central-domed, cross-hall design of Armenian churches was derived, influencing the architectural style of the region." - in: http://www.worldgreatestsites.com/cathedral-churches-of-echmiatsin-archaeological-site-of-zvartnots_armenia.htm
The card shows the Zvartnots Cathedral, a ruined seventh century circular Armenian cathedral built by order of the Catholicos Nerses the Builder from 641-653. It is located at the edge of the city of Echmiadzin. Zvartnots was built at a time when much of Armenia was found under Byzantine control and during the early invasions of srmenia by the Muslim Arabs. Zvartnots remained standing up until the end of the tenth century; afterwards, historical sources are silent as to the cause of its collapse. Zvartnots remained buried until its remains were uncovered at the start of the 20th century.

Oshakan - Armenia

Yesterday there was no mail because of the holiday and today i've received this armenian card, my 1st card from Armenia. It was sent from Russia by Alisa "marylend".

This is a card from the Oshakan village in the west of the country.

The card shows the Church of Saint Mesrop Mashdots which happens to be the burial place of Saint Mesrop Mashdots, the creator of the Armenian alphabet. The church houses his grave and was rebuilt by Catholicos George IV in 1875.