Levon’s Cave, Arinj

Armenia has many natural caves, but there are also caves dug by hand. The best known of them is Levon’s Cave in the village of Arinj, on the outskirts of Yerevan. It was created by the long labour of one man, Grandpa Levon.

According to Grandpa Levon, the call to dig a cave came to him in a dream. For more than 20 years he dug into the rock by hand, to a depth of about 21 metres. The cave consists of many carefully finished passages, corridors and branches. After his death his wife has kept his memory alive. His simple tools and photographs of the work are displayed in the cave, candles are lit and khachkars have been placed there.

The photograph shows steps cut into the rock and an arched passage lit by a lamp.