Trip Finale
Though it's still hard to believe, our trip to Armenia has come to an end. Surely everyone was sad to see each other leave so FCHA planned for us a fun filled day to ease the pain. First, Melik took the band to Holy Edjmiatsin and it was certainly a great sight to see. From the first step into the cathedral I became overwhelmed with the site's history. Just the thought of how 1700 years ago, St Gregory the Illuminator had built the beautiful church and it had survived to this date was tough to grasp. It comforts me to know that through all the adversity that Armenians have went through as a people, the Church is still standing and standing as strong as ever. Luckily, we were also able to catch a glimpse of the Рatriarch as he entered the church as the last person in a long precession. After visiting Ejmiatsin, we were taken to a nice small restaurant in Yerevan where the cheese fries had everyone's mouth watering before the first bite, (okay, maybe only me).
After the restaurant, we were taken to Khor Virap where we were absorbed with even more history. At the monastery we were able to to go down the pit where St. Gregory the Illuminator was jailed for 13 years. How Gregory managed to remain sane after more than a decade in a pit is mind boggling. I gave myself about 5 minutes before the combination of heat and claustrophobia started to drive me crazy. At Khor Virap we got a close view of Mount Ararat and the border with Turkey. Although we lost Mount Ararat to the Turks, I was instilled with a sense of pride that they weren't able to take Khor Virap and that brought me satisfaction.
After returning to the Shirak to rest for a little, we were taken to a distance away from the hot city to a nice place alongside the Kazhak river where we were able to dine, dance, and watch the animals. We might have even cause a bear fight with a few morsels of lavash tossed into the cage. The food was good but I believe the highlight of the dinner was the emotional toasts made by a few members of the FCHA office and our group. It was great to hear the appreciation that FCHA members had for us, and it surely was a mutual feeling.
After heading back to the Shirak, the group headed to the Stoyka Pub where we danced the night away and boy, it was a blast. As the morning approached, the time came for us to say goodbye and personally, it was a tough moment. I'll never forget the friendships I made on this trip; from the young, rambunctious David Talanian to the older, wiser Peter Manuelian, we all bonded on this adventure and no matter what, our bond will remain unbroken.
As I reflect on this trip from the Shirak Hotel cafe as one of the last members in Armenia, I'd like to say that this was the best experience of my life, (believe me, I've had some fun times.) As a group, we filled a hole in the world and that will forever be something that I will cherish. Seeing my native country and the city of Yerevan were definitely highlights of the trip, but nothing compares to seeing the joy and happiness on the faces of those we helped. There's no greater gift than the gift of giving and I still have a lot of giving left in me. I leave Armenia honored to have had the chance to help those in need; it is an unmatched feeling and I look forward to coming back to continue this mission. Hayastan, its been real.
Till the next time,
Matt Ishkhan
Leo Manuelian's Team~ Over and Out!
Though it's still hard to believe, our trip to Armenia has come to an end. Surely everyone was sad to see each other leave so FCHA planned for us a fun filled day to ease the pain. First, Melik took the band to Holy Edjmiatsin and it was certainly a great sight to see. From the first step into the cathedral I became overwhelmed with the site's history. Just the thought of how 1700 years ago, St Gregory the Illuminator had built the beautiful church and it had survived to this date was tough to grasp. It comforts me to know that through all the adversity that Armenians have went through as a people, the Church is still standing and standing as strong as ever. Luckily, we were also able to catch a glimpse of the Рatriarch as he entered the church as the last person in a long precession. After visiting Ejmiatsin, we were taken to a nice small restaurant in Yerevan where the cheese fries had everyone's mouth watering before the first bite, (okay, maybe only me).
After the restaurant, we were taken to Khor Virap where we were absorbed with even more history. At the monastery we were able to to go down the pit where St. Gregory the Illuminator was jailed for 13 years. How Gregory managed to remain sane after more than a decade in a pit is mind boggling. I gave myself about 5 minutes before the combination of heat and claustrophobia started to drive me crazy. At Khor Virap we got a close view of Mount Ararat and the border with Turkey. Although we lost Mount Ararat to the Turks, I was instilled with a sense of pride that they weren't able to take Khor Virap and that brought me satisfaction.
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| Our farewell dinner |
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| Leo and Sona dancing at the restaurant |
After heading back to the Shirak, the group headed to the Stoyka Pub where we danced the night away and boy, it was a blast. As the morning approached, the time came for us to say goodbye and personally, it was a tough moment. I'll never forget the friendships I made on this trip; from the young, rambunctious David Talanian to the older, wiser Peter Manuelian, we all bonded on this adventure and no matter what, our bond will remain unbroken.
As I reflect on this trip from the Shirak Hotel cafe as one of the last members in Armenia, I'd like to say that this was the best experience of my life, (believe me, I've had some fun times.) As a group, we filled a hole in the world and that will forever be something that I will cherish. Seeing my native country and the city of Yerevan were definitely highlights of the trip, but nothing compares to seeing the joy and happiness on the faces of those we helped. There's no greater gift than the gift of giving and I still have a lot of giving left in me. I leave Armenia honored to have had the chance to help those in need; it is an unmatched feeling and I look forward to coming back to continue this mission. Hayastan, its been real.
Till the next time, Matt Ishkhan
Leo Manuelian's Team~ Over and Out!
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