Armenia - Deep Faith Under Fire
- Work To Wonders
- Apr 18
- 2 min read
If all you know about Armenia is the Kardashians, then let me tell you that you have seriously underestimated this beautiful, but still lesser-visited, nation.
Its landscapes are striking and dramatic, rustic and rural. Its food is fresh and utterly delicious. Its people are warm and friendly.
Its history is one tale after another of conquest, forced assimilation, persecution, and the seemingly unending battle to keep their language, culture, and religious beliefs alive.
The deep scars of Soviet occupation are everywhere, both in dilapidated factories, which had been poorly managed by Communist doctrine and went bankrupt as soon as Communism collapsed, and in the frequent use of hardy, but inefficient and uncomfortable, Russian Lada cars.
We visited three monasteries - Sanahin, Haghpat, and Akhtala - each absolutely delightful in their own way, but also with their tales of survival in struggle.
Yet each of them stands as testimony to the faithfulness, resilience, and determination of the Armenian people not to let go of their Apostolic faith no matter what.
As Christians ourselves, we found this deeply moving and inspiring. We left Armenia with a profound respect for the people of this beautiful country.
And our lunch with a local family was, quite simply, exquisite.
How to get there
It's possible to tour Armenia both from its capital, Yerevan, and from the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. Currently, due to budget flights arriving for the first time in its capital, Georgia is the cheapest option.
Note that, due to a very tense political situation, it is not possible to tour Armenia from either Turkey or Azerbaijan, and people with a passport stamp from Armenia may be turned back from the Azerbaijan border.
How we did it
Due to timing to fit it neatly into our annual leave, we flew from Glasgow to Geneva and picked up the flight to Tbilisi the next day. On the way back, we flew via London Luton. There is quite a long layover between the flights on the way back, so you may want to book a hotel in Luton or change flights in Geneva.
Hotel: Citadel Narikala, through Expedia. This is a very unique hotel with a top-notch breakfast which we heartily recommend—except if you have mobility issues as it's on a steep hill.
Flights: EasyJet
Tours: We toured Armenia with Envoy Tours, booked through Viator, who provided us with an Armenian guide, which makes a huge difference. Our group tour became a private tour as we were the only people on it!
Our top tips
Wear sturdy walking shoes with a good grip.
Remember: these are ancient places of worship that are still in use today. Treat them with respect.
If you are touring from Georgia, don't forget your passport - you will need it.
Want to see where we visited? Click here
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