PREAMBLE

Traveler , would you start off on a camping trip? The photos I am going to send you were taken when I visited one of our close sanctuaries. It is recessed from the touristic itineraries, and you have an exclusive right [thanks to me :-) ] to visit one of the mysterious and strangest places in Artsakh. You wouldn’t find any insect or bird (except for crows) there. There are a lot of boulders with inscriptions in old Armenian. Everything, even the smallest stone smells history, a very strange feeling I’d say. The air is still and trees look like dead. It is hard to describe it. One need to visit that place in person to understand what I mean.

What kind of transport you would prefer? The trip is promising to be long….

Would you have a donkey ride (1) ?Or perhaps you would prefer to travel by foot? (2)

DASHOUSHEN

Dashoushen is the holy place where Armenian “druids” and then Armenian Christians offer up spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God through the sheep or rooster. Now, it is our goal (yours and mine) to tread out the way to the heart of a Seer of Secrets! We almost reach the sanctuary. Here and then be careful and follow all my regulations.

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You are not going to awaken my dormant ancestors on tapping their feet, sorry…their holy skeletons, are you?First: Don’t try to drink from this spring. It is not time. We didn’t approve their approval yet. We need preprogramming now.

Here is the spring with inscription intagliated. It is made in church Armenian, but I’ll try to interpret the last part of that: … “ Oh Seer of Secrets, here are the memento to remind you of me and to find a salvation”The servant of God. 1861.

Top part of the spring5Stony palm where gathered a very tasty and cold water…we will drink it a bit later.6

Тake 5 steps forward and you will see these rocks and donkey. It’s a parking place. The tree is a sort of Golgotha for sheep. You see, there are three symbolic staircases leading to the tree.

Give me delicate hint that you want to make a call…7

No, cell phone is not working here. My ancestors are against of technics 8

Now we must turn to the left from Golgotha. Here are another tree. You see, how are pagan Golgotha communicates with Christian tree of wishes. Attention! We must circle the tree seven times. Only then we will have opportunity to lit the candle and offer up our wishes to the Lord of Heaven.

2.Stripes to be made of red handkerchief. You know, Christ shed his blood to save us

1. All those red bands are sort of wish offered up to the God 9

Attention! We must circle the tree seven times. Only then we will have opportunity to lit the candle and offer up our wishes to the Lord of Heaven.

A several steps to the north of the wish tree and you see these boulders.10

What a paradox: paganism twisted together with Christian beliefs… You can make a wish and lit candle. Your dream will become true. Our Dashoushen magic is working even on the distance.

Are there any differences between our icons and yours? 11

Where are your candles? Oh, don’t mind. I have a couple of them. Let’s lit it12

Between Golgotha and wishes’ tree you will measure nose with another tree. It is roosters’ Golgotha.

We kill them, leave heads of these creatures here, as for the meat, we share it with poor people. 13

“I am not a web-surfer”. Just taking a nap. Иди с миром! (Vade in pace ) 14

Far away, to the left of the wishes’ tree you will see this

old cross-stone with strange hieroglyphics engraved. We needn’t do anything here. Just breath in and let’s go back to the spring. There we must drink the water and wash our faces. It is obligatory and not to be discussed. And yes, did you take anything for charitable uses? Saying pendant, handkerchief or money? We must leave a tip for the keeper of this holy ruins :-D . 15

Is there any holy place [like mine] in your town?

How do you feel yourself, visiting such kind of place?

Does your religion allow you to visit such kind of places? If not, I ask for pardons and hope you wouldn’t cast a look to this powerpoint presentation. Close your eyes, read “pater noster” and leave this place as quick as it possible

HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED THIS JOURNEY