31 Oct 2012
by The Harebeat
in Vayots Dzor Region
Tags: architecture, Armenia, art, christianity, history, photography, religion, travel
The next morning after the
Areni Wine Festival in Vayots Dzor region of Armenia, together with my friends we decided to visit the famous 13th century Noravank Monastery. Leaving the village of Areni, we walked along the road until the Novravank intersection and from there hitchhiked an old red school bus full of 10th grade pupils who sang The Beatles and Bob Dylan songs with us all the way to the monastery. Meanwhile, the mad driver was doing his best in attempts to scare us to death cutting the sharp curves of the road through the Arpa river canyon without slowing the speed. When we arrived (thanks God, in one piece), the school teachers offered as a ride back. We thanked them and together with youngsters went to explore the monastery and its surroundings. According to a legend, Noravank is said to have housed a piece of the True Cross stained with Christ’s blood, found by a mysterious stranger who discovered its origin after it performed a miracle raising a child from the dead.
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21 Jun 2012
by The Harebeat
in Georgia, Mtskheta-Mtianeti
Tags: architecture, bell tower, christianity, church, cross, dome, Erekle II, fresco, Georgia, Jesus Christ, King Mirian, Mtskheta, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, photography, religion, St. Nino, Svetitskhoveli, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Tbilisi, travel, Vakhtang Gorgasali
Listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is located in the city of Mtskheta, about 20km northwest of Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi.
The Cathedral is known as the burial site of Christ’s robe. It used to be the largest church in Georgia until the Tbilisi Holy Trinity Cathedral was recently consecrated. Today it is one of the most venerated places of worship and serves as the seat of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. During my recent visit to Georgia I visited Svetitskhoveli twice: first time with my Georgian friend Vakhtang, and then on the next day with friends from Russia and Belarus who were in Georgia at that time.
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14 Jul 2011
by The Harebeat
in Countries, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tags: architecture, Islam, Islamic architecture, Jamek Mosque, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Masjid Jamek, Moorish, photo, photography, religion, travel, travel photo, travel stories
Located at the convergence of Klang and Gombak Rivers, Masjid Jamek is acclaimed to be the oldest mosque of Kuala Lumpur.. And of course I wouldn’t forgive myself for missing it.. Not because it’s a famous touristic spot, but because I prefer to learn the history of places through their churches and temples, which play an important role in the life of any community.. From the hostel in KL’s China Town, where I was staying I decided to take a long walk to the mosque under the burning Malay sun! And as I suffer from “topographical cretinism” (as the Russians say) in big cities, I got lost, even though I had a map with me.. Luckily, with the help of the locals I made my way to the mosque, where an old man with a long white beard greeted me..
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14 Mar 2011
by The Harebeat
in Mountain Province
Tags: burial customs, burial traditions, coffins, culture, customs, echo valley, hanging coffins, hitchhiking, Mountain province, nature, Philippines, religion, Sagada, travel, valley
FIRST PART
read the second part here:
Sagada: Echo Valley & Hanging Coffins, Second Part
I arrived in Sagada late in the evening on a minivan I hitchhiked on the road from
Banawe.. I wasn’t sure if could make it from Banawe to Sagada that day, because I left Banawe around 5 o’clock in the evening, and knowing the conditions of the road in the Philippine Cordilleras, I was expecting an overnight stay somewhere on the road or in the jungles.. But the Fortune’s wheel was on my side that evening.. First, on a motorbike I reached a military base on some mountain top.. That was the best ride on a motorbike I ever experienced: we had to drive through clouds and sometimes even above the clouds; that high we were above the sea level..
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02 Feb 2011
by The Harebeat
in Yunnan
Tags: Catholicism, china, Chinese architecture, christianity, church, Dali Catholic Church, Dali Old Town, hitchhiking, religion, religious architecture, travel, yunnan
If you walk down the Renmin Road in Dali Old Town, then take a right onto Xinmin Road, eventually you will come across the most unusual Christian church I have ever seen in my life.. It’s the Catholic Church of Dali Old Town, Yunnan province, China.. The church is located at the East of Dali not far from the town’s flea market.. Dali Catholic Church was built in 1938 by the French in the style of traditional Chinese architecture with three sections of double-tiered eaves.. During the Cultural Revolution in China severe destructions were caused to the church, it was closed.. In 1984 the church was renovated by the Religious Department and was listed under the History Protection since 1985..
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