Ararat: mount for people with spiritAugust 2, 2013 - 10:38 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A group of Muscovites led by journalist Alexander Khachiyan and prominent Russian mountaineer Vladimir Shatayev is departing for Turkey Friday, Aug 2, to climb the biblical Mount Ararat. They will also visit the Holy Cross (Sourp Khach) Church in Akhtamar island, tour through Ani, Kars and Van, making stops at Urartu fortress and ancient churches. “Ararat is a sacred mountain and while ascending it you have the time to think about spiritual values,” says Khachiyan, who has already climbed Ararat for two times. “The most important quality is not being trained physically but be ready spiritually. Whether you are a master of sports or a teenager, you should be strong-willed.” Before departure, the group, which consists of 10 people, including one woman, was blessed by Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection in Moscow. “It’s a totally new impression for me,” group member Alexey Tolokonin-Sarkissov told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. “When I was offered to join the adventure, I agreed without hesitation.” Getting permission to climb Ararat is not a hard process any longer. “It was rather difficult back in 2008 but now the procedure has been considerably eased,” Khachiyan says. The guides are Kurds. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. |