Mount Surb Luys

Mount Surb Luys is one of the mountains of the eponymous mountain range. The mountain range starts from Byurakn-Mndzur Mountains and stretches 80 km to the south, to the confluence of the Mndzur and Qghi rivers.

The mountains are rich in dark forests and mysterious caves, which have always captured the attention of the Kurdish and Armenian people. Many cold water springs flow from the slopes of the mountains.

The mountain was also called Zavakatar, Miatsin, Srblis or Surb Lusay Mountain. Until the beginning of the 20th century, every year, on the day of Vardavar, Kurdish and Armenian people of Dersim and Qghi went to mount Surb Luys for pilgrimage.

There used to be several dense juniper trees on the slopes of the mountain, but no one dared to tear even a branch, since these trees were considered sacred. The preparations for the pilgrimage started on Saturday. The tonir was burning all the time. Everyone heated the water to have a shower before the pilgrimage, and then put on festive clothes. The ones who had a quarrel with each other had to make peace, otherwise their vow would not be accepted. The pilgrimage to the mount Surb Luys was the greatest pilgrimage for them, and the vow was the most important of all.

People used to climb mount Surb Luys on foot. Women had to do it barefoot. The bigger was their vow, the greater their suffering should have been. On the top of a mountain, everyone would get down on their knees, take a handful of soil and apply it to their face and eyes, then they would kiss the stones from the top of the mountain.

Armenian Highland