Artsakh
I really do love Artsakh!We left for Karabagh on a Friday with the interns for what was a 10 hour bus drive. Of course we killed the time by playing mafia for a portion of the trip which as usual was quite eventful. While we were driving into Karabagh we drove through a two lane highway which connected Armenia to Karabagh and I did not really understand the importance of the road until Matt explained that without that road Karabagh would be cut off from Armenia at the Azeris advantage. Anyway and then I thought about it and I realized that that was the road they were always funding for on the Armenian Telethon and how people are always saying fundraisers just pocket the money and what not… but no, they built the road, or paved the road or whatever, and now Artsakh and Armenia are connected 
At least I think I have the story right about the telethon money going to the road to Artsakh. We got to Artsakh at around 10 in the evening and we settled into our rooms in the Shushi hotel. Actually, there was dinner awaiting us and I’m not quite sure what the dinner was since I don’t have the greatest memory, but I think there were French fries in that equation. Could be wrong but I know we had fries that weekend. So we settle in, then go to sleep. The next morning we go to Surpazan’s house. And the other Surpazans and priests we had met where also there, Surpazan is such an easy going and friendly person. He even had us for tea and cakes
So then we went to the church across from our hotel, Ghazanchetsots Cathedral. It’s a white washed modern looking church and we learned that the Azeris would store their ammunition and weapons in there. Even though Artsakh is so so beautiful I also found it to be chilling at the same time. All around you there are signs of war. We went inside behind/ under the alter and there was a domed shape room and we all spread out around the domed wall with one person standing in the middle. No matter how quietly and carefully one whispered from the wall, the person in the middle could hear what that person was saying. The room is meant for confessions I believe. The priest would stand in the middle and the sinners against the wall and he would hear you out. If the person in the middle speaks loud enough the impact of the waves could pop his ear drums. I thought that was amazing as well.
After the church we walked over to this gorge, probably the most beautiful place I have ever seen. It reminded me a little of Machu Picchu but any way. Below the gorge there was a river and some farming land and it was just such a breathtaking view. The story behind the gorge is that during the war, the Armenians climbed up the steep gorge to defend their homeland against the Azeris.
On our way to see a monastery there was a tank on the side of the rode which had been the target of an Azeri missile and all the soldiers inside had been killed. They say they leave the tank there to remind everyone about the conflict. On the way to a monastery there were chords hanging horizontally in case Turkish helicopters were trying to come in and the would get entangled in it. When we got to the road of the monastery it began to rain and it was kind of muddy so it took us a while to get up there with the bus. Along the walls of the road were license plates of Azeri cars that were taken away. The monastery was nice, it’s new and not in use yet but it really is nice and modern. The living areas and classrooms looked good.
Best part of the trip…playing futbol with the kids. A couple had followed us around and when we were walking by the soccer field there were more kids and we were like “futbol khaghank?” and we did. The game got a little rough with pilgrims against interns and the kids just trying to make a goal in and playing keep away from the Americans basically, but it was all in good fun.
Badarak in Arstakh was the best. Actually it was exactly the same as it is here, but the choir was beautiful. The choir was made up of girls who were probably not even 16 yet and they had the most angelic voices ever. I think I would go back just to hear them sing.
July 24th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
[…] After almost six full weeks since the start of CYMA 2007, the CYMA pilgrims have returned from their spiritual journey with a fresh and new perspective. Their pictures and blogs show the abundance of their journey and highlight all of the amazing heartfelt experiences they have been witness too. Check out some of their blogs: Arman’s Blog, Rose’s Blog, Armine’s Blog, Artsakh, and Armenia Through the Eyes of a Pilgrim. […]