September 18, 2012 Geghard Monastery & Garni Temple

Geghard is named after the holy spear that pierced Christ's side at the crucifixion, but the spear is now at Echmiadzin Monastery which we visited later in the week.  Geghard stands in a steep canyon and part of it is a cave church.  Garni Temple was a pagan temple dedicated to the Roman God of the sun.  It has 14 towers and a Roman bathhouse is nearby.  It was originally built by Armenia's King Trdat I in the 1st century.