A close second to Petra on the list of favourite destinations in Jordan, the ancient city of Jerash boasts an unbroken chain of human occupation dating back more than 6,500 years.

Jerash lies on a plain surrounded by hilly wooded areas and fertile basins. Conquered by General Pompey in 63 BC, it came under Roman rule and was one of the ten great Roman cities, the Decapolis League.

The city’s golden age came under Roman rule, during which time it was known as Gerasa, and the site is now generally acknowledged to be one of the best preserved Roman provincial towns in the world. Hidden for centuries in sand before being excavated and restored over the past 70 years, Jerash reveals a fine example of the grand, formal provincial Roman urbanism that is found throughout the Middle East, comprising paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theatres, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls pierced by towers and gate.

The modern city of Jerash can be found to the east of the ruins. While the old and new share a city wall, careful preservation and planning has seen the city itself develop well away from the ruins so there is no encroachment on the sites of old.

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On the Van Lake, nowadays Turkey, there’s an island called Ahtamar (white vein, in turkish) on the land where a 10th century armenian church is set. We’re talking about The Armenian Church of Saint Crosse.

Armenia was the first christianized nation in the history (around 300 A.C.) by St. Grigor Enlighter. The Armenians, who consider themeseves as being the followers of the Urartu Kingdom, built the Christian Institution of Church (Apostolic or Gregorian) legitimating the monofisitism, being autonomous in comparison with the Orthodox or Catholic Churches.

Monofisitism = religious dogma which doesn’t accept the dual nature of Jesus Christ, the Human and the Holly one, but only the Divinity.

Where: The Eastern side of Anatolia, the Van Lake, Turkey

What: Christin Church of Saint Crosse

Access by Railway and boat from Turkey

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