On June 9-10, 2018, a group of Syrian-Armenian youth went on a pilgrimage to Syunik Marz within the framework of the “Bright Future of Syrian-Armenian Youth” program and visited Tatev Monastery, Armenian Stonehenge and Noravank Monastery. The purpose of the pilgrimage was to introduce the participants to the monastery of Tatev, which has been a powerful spiritual, educational, and cultural center for centuries. The Monastery has played an important role in the history of the Armenian people, stunning all with its unique natural setting and scenic views.

“Such pilgrimages are very important for us, as we learned a lot about the geography and history of Armenia within a very short period of time. Acquiring knowledge surrounded by peers is easier than reading about it in the books,” shared one of the participants.

The youth took the famous “Tatev” ropeway and though many were worried that their lives were literally “on the line,” they soon became convinced that the ropeway was safe and admired the steep cliffs and magical nature of Syunik.

“We are truly a blessed nation of God. Looking at these walls, I feel it,” shared one of the participants, who was very excited to meet the Reverent of the monastery Father Mikayel Gevorgyan, who gave his blessing to her at St. Peter-Peter Church. Another participant Karlos, thanked the organizers of the program, and shared his impressions: “I am very happy to be part of this project. I am an architect by profession and I love Armenian architecture very much. It’s very important for me to travel to Armenia and get acquainted with the architecture of the churches,” he said.

Overall, the participants were very happy to have gone on this pilgrimage and returned home full of positive energy and great memories. They not only gained new knowledge about important Armenian spiritual centers, but also acquired new friends and shared their impressions and experiences.