Ashtarak

Spitakavor and Tsiranvor

Ashtarak ("Աշտարակ" in Armenian, meaning tower) is an industrial town in Armenia, on the Kasagh river gorge approx. 13 km northwest from Yerevan, and is the capital of Aragatsotn province. This town, with 30,000 inhabitants, is an important crossroad of routes to the three of the most important Armenian towns: Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor.

According to a legend, three sisters lived in Ashtarak, all of whom fell in love with the same man, prince Sargis. The elder two sisters decided to commit suicide in favour of the youngest one. One wearing an apricot-orange dress and the other wearing a red dress, they threw themselves into the gorge. When the youngest sister found out, she put on a white dress and also threw herself into the gorge. Sargis then became a hermit and three small churches appeared at the edge of the gorge, named after sisters' dress colours (although their actual colours do not match those colours).

Best preserved of them is Karmravor (karmir meaning red) church which is actually apricot coloured. This church with an octagonal tambour dates back to the 7th century and is dedicated to the Mother of God (Arakelots). The other two churches, Spitakavor (spitak meaning white, in fact the church is red) from the 14th century, and Tsiranavor (tsiran meaning apricot, in fact the church is white) from the 5th century.

Karmravor church Sourb Sargis church
The town boasts two more churches, including Sourb Sargis, built in the 19th century on an old foundation, is situated at an attractive point at the other edge of the gorge and offers a fine view to the previously mentioned three churches. The town's largest church, St. Marine, built in 1281, is cross shaped with an octagonal tambour and is situated in the town centre.

Another interesting sight is an unusual bridge over the Kasagh river, built in 1664, which features three arches that are unequal in size.

External links

[Cilicia.com article on the region]

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