Yerevan and Etchmiadzin

While in Yerevan, I also had the pleasure of visiting the museum dedicated to famous Soviet film director, Sergei Parajanov.

To say that the guy was a little eclectic would be an understatement.

On recommendations from a friend, I went outside of the centre to see what Yerevan was like for locals.

As always, the image is very different from that put on for tourists.

I was surprised to find a mosque not far from the centre of Yerevan.

Located just out of Yerevan is Etchmiadzin, where the head of the Armenian church resides (think Armenian equivalent of the Vatican).

Etchmiadzin

A child is being baptised in the small temple nearby.

After the priest finished the baptism, I approach him to get a blessing and realise that Armenians (as with the Catholic faith) perform the cross opposite to the Orthodox faith. Catholic – forehead, chest, left shoulder right shoulder, Orthodox – right shoulder, left shoulder.

Feeling blessed and that god is on my side, I decide I’ll hitch hike to Khor Virap after returning to Yerevan.