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 David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with Stephan Schütz, Executive Partner at Gerkan, Marg and Partners. 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. Partner news | Court in Azerbaijan extends former Karabakh leader’s arrest by 5 months The Binagadi District Court in Azerbaijan has granted the prosecutor’s petition to extend the arrest of Arkady Ghukasyan. Ucom General Director joins High-Tech Development Panel Discussion The discussion was titled "The Role of International Corporations and Investors as Catalysts for Development of High-Tech Ecosystem." U.S. still believes “peace is possible” between Armenia, Azerbaijan The United States continues to believe that peace is possible between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Vedant Patel says. Family of Ilham Aliyev’s security chief owns vast property in UK As head of security for Azerbaijan’s president, Eyyubov is closely trusted by one of the world’s most authoritarian leaders. |