This week, as most of my interviews were completed, I took a couple of days to go touring.
I visited the Temple of Garni, which most scholars believe was built in 77 c.e., dedicated to the Fire god Mihr. Ancient Armenians were sun worshippers, and their gods were similar to the Zoroastrian ones. Thus, the Armenian Mihr was equivalent to the Zoroastrian Mithra.
Although Armenia was declared Christian in 301 c.e. by its king, it took about 700 years to convert most of the pre-Christians. And there are still Armenian pagans, who gather at Garni on March 21st to celebrate the new year. And even Christian Armenians still honor their pagan roots.
Stay tuned for more paganism as Armenia celebrates the ancient festival of Vartavar.
A pilgrimage to Armenia 