Geghard Monastery is one of the hand-made monuments of medieval Armenia located in Kotayk Region, just 40km from Yerevan. It is unique and unrepeatable in its kind. The Geghard monastery complex consists of a Cathoghike church, an adjacent vestibule, two rock-hewn churches, a shrine-tomb, and rock-hewn cells. In 2000, the complex was included in the list of monuments under the protection of UNESCO.

The monastery was named so, because the well-known spear (arm. geghard) with which the Roman soldier pierced Christ’s side was kept here. It was brought to Armenia by the apostle Thaddeus, one of the first preachers of Christianity. Now it is located in Vagharshapat, in the history museum. The name Geghard was given not only to the monastery, but also to a branch of the Geghama mountains, which stretches to the south and is called “Geghardasar”. It creates the gorge through which the upper course of the Azat River flows. The gorge was also called “Geghardadzor”.

Geghard monastery is also called Ayrivank (ayr – cave), because there are many caves here, which served as solitary cells.

At the end of the 14th century, Armenia was subjected to the raids of the Central Asian general Lenktemur. Having heard the fame of the miracles of the Geghard Monastery, Lenktemur (1336-1405) decided to try it himself. He attacked the deserted valley with a countless army and ordered to bring the Holy Sign of Geghard to him. As soon as they raise their lances to strike the Holy Sign, immediately many invisible armored soldiers in colorful uniforms attack the enemy from all sides. A chaos falls into Temur’s army. some run away, others get angry, many go blind. Seeing that, the horrified Lenktemur begs forgiveness from Holy Sign and returns back, promising great rewards.