On the right bank of the Hrazdan River stands Tsitsernakaberd Hill, which is translated as "swallow's fortress" from Armenian. According to local folklore, these beautiful birds were love messengers of the Armenian pagan gods Vahagn and Astghik and lived on this hill.
At this misterious place, where the sky seems to bow toward the earth, stands the memorial dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Its austere lines and solemn forms appear as an extension of grief itself, carved forever in stone. The tall obelisk, rising upward, symbolizes not only the sorrow of loss but also the rebirth of a nation that rose from the ashes of tragedy.
At the heart of the monument burns the eternal flame, sheltered beneath twelve leaning pylons that seem to mourn over their people. Each year, on April 24, thousands gather here – descendants of survivors and those who carry their memory – to lay flowers and unite in silence. On that day, the hill becomes covered with a red carpet of carnations, and silence speaks louder than any words.
Tsitsernakaberd is not merely a monument, but the living heart of remembrance, resonating with pain, love, and an undying hope. Here, every step is a reminder: time may pass, but memory remains eternal.