Raffi Berberian Photography

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Philadelphia, PA
Raffi Berberian Photography

My goal is to share cultural, historic, and natural sites through my Armenia: In Between project.

09/16/2026

The 13th century Gandzasar Monastery in the Republic of is a jewel of Armenian architecture.

It is and will always be Armenian.

09/11/2026

We have entered one of my favorite seasons in Armenia! The air is clear and crisp!

Here we are on a ridge looking southwest over the Khosrov Forest State Reserve. In the distance Mount looks over us.

Directly behind me is .

You don't have to go far to see views like this! The power of

08/31/2026

End of Summer vibes.
Northern coast of the peninsula.

It's been a very busy summer and I hope to continue my posts.

Stay tuned as we're headed back to

06/13/2026

Our next stop takes us to a site that was shrouded in mystery for a long time: the Jewish Cemetery of Yeghegis.

It is located on the southern edge of the village next to the Yeghegis River. You must use a small bridge to cross the river to get to the site.

While there is no definite historical evidence proving the existence of Jewish communities in Yeghegis and other parts of Armenia, this site tells a fascinating story. The gravestones were only discovered between 1997-1998, and excavations led by Professor Michael Stone and Dr. D. Amit between 2000-2003 revealed 64 whole gravestones and many fragments.

As you walk through the fenced territory near the woody forest, take a close look at the stones. Ten of them carry inscriptions in Hebrew and Aramaic, dating from 1266 to 1346. It is interesting to see that similarities between these and Armenian gravestones prove that the local Jewish community had adopted local cultural norms and traditions.

The inscriptions on the stones are also unique. They aren't just facts about a person's death; many are artistic and poetic statements. You can find some of the translations on the sign post at the entrance.

Certain parts of the site other than have been cleared of the trees and bushes, but other spots are kind of still in the forested areas. Can see how they used to look before they were discovered and why it took so long for them to be rediscovered.

The site has been open to the public for pilgrimage and official visits since May 2009.

Enjoying my project? Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/raffiberberianphotography

04/30/2026

It was wonderful to walk around the fully opened today at the ! It was my first time seeing it without all of the fencing and it truly is a beautiful tribute to Armenian heritage. Looking forward to phase 2 which will add some artwork, carvings, and other education materials!

04/27/2026

It was an honor to attend and assist in the dedication ceremony of the Armenian Heritage Walk in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Great job to the entire Armenian Heritage Foundation for all of their hard work and for the community for showing support!

The walk is now one of the largest public displays of Armenian Art and one of the largest Armenian genocide memorials outside of Armenia in the world!

We must remember and honor our past but I can see a bright future ahead!

Address

2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy
Philadelphia, PA
19130

Website

https://www.raffiberberianphotography.com/

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