Western Diocese

Program Highlights include:

• 14 days in Armenia – 1 night in Munich upon the return
• Marriott Hotel on the main square, with the convenience of the heart of Yerevan
• Private audience with His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II
• rivate tour of Etchmiadzin & Catholicos’ Art Gallery
• VIP seating during Divine Liturgy at Holy Etchmiadzin
• Private tour of St. Sarkis Diocesan Center of Yerevan
• Private Tours of major historical sites in and around Yerevan
• Private Tours of major historical sites throughout Armenia, including Lake
• Sevan, Haghbat, Khor Virab, Keghard, Garni, Dilijan, Haghardzin, Lori region, Noravank, Yegheknazor, etc., etc.
• Optional evening concerts, theatre, opera and dance presentations
• Visitation to the Kavar Orphanage
• English-Speaking Tour Guide, air-conditioned bus with lavatory
  

 

Join Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, Pilgrimage Director since 1999, on what will be an adventure of a lifetime. During the past nine years over 200 pilgrims have traveled with us, some participating twice and even three times. All will agree that the memories will last forever.

 

The $3,850 per person (double occupancy) cost includes:

 

• Round Trip SFO/Munich (Lufthansa), Round Trip Munich to Yerevan (Lufthansa)
• 14 nights at Marriott Hotel. One night in Munich on the return. $750 supplement for single occupancy. At your request, we will be happy to make every attempt to suit you with a roommate.
• Daily breakfast at Marriott Hotel
• 9 lunches at various restaurants throughout Armenia
• Daily excursions on our private air conditioned bus with rest room.

For information, call Naiyry Sarkiss ASAP at St. John Armenian Church. 415-661-1142.

 

Trip Itinerary…

as of September 29, 2007 and is subject to change

 

SUNDAY, JUNE 29: Depart San Francisco or LAX for Munich via Lufthansa. After layover, depart for Yerevan via Lufthansa.

DAY 1: TUESDAY, JULY 1: Arrival at Yerevan Zvartnots International Airport at 3:00 a.m.. Passport control, Luggage handling. Transfer to hotel and get to sleep. Breakfast is available from 7:00 to 10:00 am. At noon we will have the Yerevan city tour (including Mayr Hayastan, Republic Square, Yerevan State University, Tsiternakaberd 1915 Genocide Memorial, Sports & Concerts Complex, Kiev Bridge, Parliament, Palace of President, Academy of Sciences, Opera House). Evening introduction to the basics of Yerevan (money changing, phone cards, email center, town square, reliable restaurants). Early dinner at the Lebanese restaurant.

DAY 2: WEDNESDAY, JULY 2: Breakfast included at the hotel. Tour Garni Pagan Temple and 12^th Century Geghard Monastery carved in solid rock. Open garden lunch under the trees in the village of Garni. Return to Yerevan. Group dinner out for those interested, however experience tells us we will be too full from lunch. Evening free. 9:00 ice cream at a sidewalk café.

DAY 3: THURSDAY, JULY 3: Breakfast included at the hotel. Khor Virab Monastery (dungeon where St. Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned until 301 A.D.) Also journey to 12^th Century Noravank Monastery. Lunch included at an outdoor restaurant beneath the incredibly majestic cliffs near Noravank. Evening free. Group dinner out for those interested, but experience tells us we will be full from lunch. Possibility of evening concert and/or 9:00 ice cream.

DAY 4: FRIDAY, JULY 4: Breakfast included at the hotel. Matenadaran Museum of Ancient Manuscripts in Yerevan. Also, travel to Oshagan and Ashtarak region to see historical sites. Lunch included. Return to Yerevan. Group dinner for those interested, but experience tells us we will be full from lunch. Evening free….9:00 ice cream at a sidewalk café.

DAY 5: SATURDAY, JULY 5: Breakfast at the hotel. Day to rest and shopping at Vernisage, an open air arts and crafts market. Traditional group dinner at Old Yerevan restaurant, with musicians in costume singing/playing authentic Armenian instruments; fine dining. Be prepared to dance!

DAY 6: SUNDAY, JULY 6: Breakfast at the hotel. Travel to village of Mirkashad, north of Etchmiadzin city. Interact with the humble villagers of this rural farmland, as Fr. Sarkis celebrates Badarak in their sanctuary. Tour the Haig and Mari Kilijian Parish Center, which has been renovated with the help of St. John parishioners. Lunch included, then Vernisage. Evening free. 9:00 ice cream and/or symphony.

DAY 7: MONDAY, JULY 7: Breakfast at hotel. Visit to Kavar Orphanage south of Lake Sevan, which has enjoyed support from St. John parishioners. Meet with Primate of Gegharkooonik Diocese and tour Garo Suzmeian Sunday School Wing of the Ailanjian Youth Center, both of which have been renovated with support by St. John parishioners. Lunch included at a fine restaurant overlooking the shore of Lake Sevan. Visit to Habitat For Humanity housing site, to which we contributed a house last year (our 5th). No group dinner, as we will be full from lunch. Evening free. 9:00 ice cream and/or concert.

DAY 8: TUESDAY, JULY 8: Breakfast included at the hotel. Trip to Northern Armenia. Tour 11^TH Century Haghpat Monastery. Lunch included on the road near Alaverdi. Return to Yerevan. No group dinner, as we will be full from lunch.

DAY 9: WEDNESDAY, JULY 9: Free day to rest. Group dinner for those interested. Possibly an opera or the dance ensemble in the evening.

DAY 10: THURSDAY, JULY 10: Evening free. Breakfast included at the hotel. Trip to 12^th Century Haghartsin Monastery. Lunch included along the river near the town of Dilijan. Return to Yerevan. Group dinner for those interested, but experience tells us that we will be full from lunch. 9:00 ice cream at a sidewalk café.

DAY 11: FRIDAY, JULY 11: Breakfast included at the hotel. Tour Etchmiadzin sanctuary, Etchmiadzin museum, Etchmiadzin complex, Alex & Marie Manoogian Museum, Veharan, Veharan museum, audience with Vehapar, Gayane Monastery. Lunch included. Group dinner for those interested. Evening free

DAY 12: SATURDAY, JULY 12: Breakfast included at the hotel. Vernisage (Open air arts & crafts market) for those interested; otherwise it’s a free day to rest and pack for the trip home. Farewell Dinner.

DAY 13: SUNDAY, JULY 13: Breakfast included at the hotel. Badarak at Etchmiadzin. Lunch included, possibly at Mer Doon, home for young women graduates of orphanages, which has been sponsored by St. John parishioners. Vernisage (open air arts and crafts market). Group dinner for those interested. Evening free to finish packing for the early morning departure.

DAY 14: MONDAY, JULY 14: Transfer to Yerevan Zuvartnots Airport. Depart for Munich via Lufthansa. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hotel. Please note: The logic in staying in Munich overnight is to rest after the 5 hour flight from Yerevan and to prepare for the 11 hour flight back to San Francisco or LAX. It is strongly suggested that we take advantage of the afternoon and evening to enjoy a meal at the hotel and rest. Group dinner at the hotel or a nearby restaurant.

DAY 15: TUESDAY, JULY 15: Breakfast included at the hotel. Transfer to Munich Airport. Depart for San Francisco or LAX. Welcome Home!

Please note, upon our arrival in Yerevan we will be presented a list of plays, operas, symphonies and dance performances, which will be available to us. For a nominal cost, tickets may be purchased through Levon Travel. Our pilgrims have found that these performances make wonderful evening activities.

Also note, there is a long-standing tradition among Western Diocese Armenia Pilgrims, to enjoy a 9:00 pm stroll to one of the many sidewalk cafes to enjoy ice cream and/or a cup of Armenian coffee.