Richard And Jo Demeester's photos with the keyword: Yerevan

Genocide Memorial Day in Armenia, April 24, and it was still early (around 10:30) and already the flowers were piled incredibly high around the eternal flame of the Genocide Memorial. On the outside were large floral tributes presented by international organisations and representatives of foreign powers, but the real beauty was the overwhelming impact of a few flowers by every visitor. Mid morning, and it was already quite a task to manage the piles. By the end of the day, I am sure there is almost a wall created by the mounds of flowers, which would number towards a million, at a guess.

April 24 is Genocide Memorial Day, when the people of Armenia remember the 1.5 million of their country-folk who were killed in the early 20th century. Hundreds of thousands come to the genocide memorial to lay flowers, pay respects, and remember those who died. Since we were still in Yerevan, we thought it appropriate to join the crowd. It was very nice to be accompanied by a local, Lilit, who we met through couchsurfing.

We got tickets an hour or so before the show. It was a fantastic concert.

Rebuilt temple from the 1st century.

Spring is coming. Yerevan is full of flowers, but particularly tulips. So many garden beds with tulips in every imaginable colour.

Armenia is justly proud of its brandies and cognacs.

This lion sculpture is made from all sorts of old rubber tyres. Tractor, car, and bicycle tyres could all be identified. Part of the Cafesjian collection displayed outside the Cascade Gallery at Yerevan.

Khatchkers were grave markers for many centuries in this part of the world. From simple crosses to ornate scenes and fabulous patterns, occasionally with writing but not commonly so. This detail on a khatchker at Geghard Monastery particularly stood out.

Mount Ararat emerges from the clouds behind the 7th century ruins of Surp Grigor Lusavorich at Zvartnots, near Yerevan.

It is claimed that this is the head of the spear that was used by a soldier to pierce the side of Jesus Christ while he was on the cross to check if he was dead. It is easy to be sceptical about whether it is the genuine article, just as easy as it is to blindly believe it is what they say. Personally, I see no reason to doubt it, considering the item has been kept by the Armenian church for over 1700 years, and therefore it was collected relatively soon after the event. That said, for us it is not important whether it is genuine or not, it still acts as a reminder of the event. As long as the object itself is not venerated and it is treated more as a historic item than a particularly holy one, then I see it as an illustration of the type of spear that would have been used. And perhaps, just perhaps, it really is the one.

Inside the 17th century church called Zoravar in Yerevan.