Footprints criss-cross a country. “We bear witness to history”! Large and small, old and new, they are. This way and that, over and under each other, they go. Some stroll, some march, some stagger, some stomp. It always bewilders.
But in Armenia, two sets of bold footprints claim us! One set belongs to Christianity and the other to Communism. Steadfast and stubborn, these footprints zigzag Armenia, still today.
Imagine Armenia is the world’s first country to declare CHRISTIANITY its official religion. Way back in 301 A.D! Over 94% of Armenia’s are Christian and almost all belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church. Armenians, we speak to, say proudly ‘we are the oldest country in the world’! It is Saint Gregory the Illuminator that convinced the King to discard his pagan ways. Footprints highlight all over the place.
Armenia is a Soviet satellite state from 1922 to 1991 but it still feels like a COMMUNIST country in 2018. As we ride into Yerevan, the capital, my heart and jaw drops. Where is the post-Soviet City? The forlorn Soviet apartment block is everywhere. Armenians still live in grey, and often crumbling buildings. What! No clean break from the past! It shouldn’t surprise me. Our own township style housing still clutches firmly. Little boxes find rows in South Africa but columns in Armenia. Yes, the demise of one system requires the birth of another. And it’s complicated.
Here are a few photos of both Christian and Communist footprints that jump out at us in Armenia.

A dedication to the Sun God, this footprint belongs to Pagan times and was built 1 century B.C. in pre-Christian times.

And the famous Khor Virap stands in the Ararat Valley in the shadow of Mount Ararat, which we did not see because of cloud cover …

Khor Virap, in the shadow of Mount Ararat, is a small citadel that includes the Temple on the left and the Chapel on the right.

Below a prayer room is the famous pit where the founder of the Armenian Apolstolic Church, Gregory the Illuminator, was imprisoned for 13 years.

Here I drop into that pit. In Gregory the Illuminators time it was filled with snakes, scorpions and a kind woman rather dropped a loaf down once a day.

It is the commitment of Gregory to stay true to his beliefs that convinces the King to convert his Kingdom to Christianity.

Footprints of a different kind. In the very center of the capital, Yerevan, there are some very grand public buildings.

… the monotomy of it takes your breath away. We see similar patterns in other ex- Soviet capitals, Bucharest, Tbilisi, Baku, etc

There seem to be few sectional title or body corporate rules … everybody pretty much does their own thing.

This is the view from our apartment. Even the newer buildings on both sides have the same look and feel.
Weird, isn’t it? Communism doesn’t erase Christian footprints. And Democracy doesn’t erase Communist footprints. Footprints seem to last forever.
But, to be honest, the Armenian imprint that lasts the longest is … the bread, the BreaD, the BREAD. We don’t so much see it, as smell it. As we walk, as we ride. As we approach each village, each market. Every morning, every afternoon and every evening. Its fresh smell hangs everywhere. Its full taste satisfies every time. BREAD is, without doubt, the Ground beneath their Feet!
Armenians kneed, roll, bake, sell and buy fresh bread ceaselessly. It has many forms and all are delicious! Lavash, it is most well-known for. It’s a flatbread now used throughout western Asia and the Middle East. Fresh, it’s great for wraps. Dried, it lasts for a year.
The secret behind the loud Christian and Communist footprints is the Ground beneath their Feet.
! BREAD !

But the bread, the bread, the bread … the smell of it draws us inside this bread factory. The flatbread in the foreground, is called Lavash, an Armenian invention.

Our lady bakers are thrilled that we were drawn in, from SOUTH AFRICA, by the smell of their Lavash.
What an Interesting life in Armenia, the buildings and Christian Churches. Bread, Bread, and more flat bread,eat your heart out with that Lavash bread. You are doing alot of sight seeing and exploring on the trip. Go well and enjoy life. Debbie – Durban
Lovely stories and pics, look forward to the updates on your travels.
As a child my sisters used to tell me about the Red Army – they were the “enemy”. I feared the Russians and I feared communism. I was right to be frightened. Those apartments….. What a life. It appears to be so very depressing.
And yes, no different to the shanty squatter camps here. And now I fear the red berets….
Ai….. But the Beauty and the Bread. Those churches and historic buildings. The mountains. Mount Ararat. Wow! Just salivating – those Lavash wraps. I need to find a Schwarma – QUICK!!!
Going to bed soon to dream of that lovely Lavash!! Intriguing reports and pics, L & P!!
I am so enjoying your descriptions of the people and places you go to on your travels. I can feel the ground beneath your feet, feel the rain and mist around you, and taste the warm, fresh bread. Thank you for the experience. Belinda
I am touched by the pictures, your story, the bread… What an interesting pikipiki!! Thank you! Pitty about the rain, but it looked so lush and green especially round the chapel and monastery complex. Mount Ararat is high – poor old Noah to get stuck right at the top! The architecture (“ceiling” and uneven floor) of the 12th century Christian Church in Garni is awesome. The pit must have been a terrible experience – I got that “closterfobic” feeling just seeing you coming down the ladder. I would have loved the bread!!! Don’t think the SA Health Inspectors would have passed the bakery. Your descriptions of the contrasts, the buildings are so perfect! Missing you guys! Love Amelia xx
Very informative – as if you travel in time and report back. One learn so much what you see and hear through your eyes and ears and then share with your words and photo’s that we even start to smell things. Further safe travels! Nods.
Bread – “The Footprints of Armenia” All that fresh bread sounds yummy. A very devoted Christian community. Your’e trip gets more and more interesting with each post. Have a great trip. Keep well Colin from Durban.
What an interesting look on life in Armenia. I loved it all. The Christian churches, the communist apartments and most delightful of all—all that bread. I was looking for a footstep in the Lavash!!
Feel like rushing over and eat bread bread bread while sitting on the steps of a BC temple with two dear friends. Wonderful!
Very interesting, beautiful pictures and amazing history. Thank you very much.
Les Penny
Gosh how interesting——–not what we imagined at all————and your pictures and comments are MUCH appreciated———-we can almost smell that bread !
Nice report Linda. Interesting how every town, city, area or city has something that you will remember it by. In this instance drab communist style buildings and bread!!
I love fresh bread, it is irresistible.