March 21, 2014 - Mount Ararat dominates the skyline when seen from the Armenian side of the border with Turkey. It's huge snow-capped peak is clearly visible from the capital Yerevan. Many Christians believe that Ararat is where Noah's Ark found its final resting place. From Armenia, it's impossible to reach - due to an absence of diplomatic relations with Turkey, but you can get a good view at least. Here in Vayots Dzor province, 120 kilometers from Yerevan, a group of archaeologists is pondering the beliefs surrounding the mountain range. There is some skepticism about the correlation between the biblical stories and reality. Boris Gasparian, an archaeologist with the Armenian Academy of Archaeology and Ethnography, says the story of Noah is nothing but people's memory of natural disasters. "This is how Ararat valley looked when it was covered with water. It was impossible to live there, and only when the water disappeared people came down from the mountains to the valley to start agriculture," he explains. "That is from where the legend of Noah has come from. All the discussions about where exactly Noah settled are not correct because all inter mountain territories looked the same and in every region there was its own Noah, because people lived on the top of mountains and gradually they were coming down to valleys to start agriculture." In Echmiadzin, close to the Armenian capital, the Cathedral Echmiadzin claims to be home to a fragment of Noah's Ark. It is said that the fragment was given to St. Jacob in the 4th century by an angel. Another part of the fragment was given to Queen Catherine the Great of Russia and is preserved in Hermitage Museum of St. Petersburg. Mery Petrosyan, Echmiadzin Museum worker, recalls what is said to have happened to St. Jacob. "In the beginning of the 4th century St. Jacob decided to attend approachable path up Mountain Ararat in order to search for Noah's Ark and take a piece of it," she says. "And after many painful days of attempting to climb the mountain he fell asleep and in his dream he saw an angel who gave him this small piece of Noah's Ark. So, in the morning he woke up saw the small piece, took it and returned home. After that it was preserved here." In Khor Virap, close to the Turkish border, an ancient monastery provides reminders of the Biblical story. There's an abstract from the Book of Genesis on display here, in front of a picturesque view of Ararat. Visitors are also given the opportunity to release a dove - as a reminder of Noah apparently sending out a dove from the Ark to search for ground. "As for a spiritual person, Ararat for me is proof that what is written in the Bible is true contrary to those who say that this is myth. But Ararat proves that it is true and Noah found a resting place here," says Aris Tonoyan, Head of Khor Virap Monastery. "There are some scientists who doubt it and are searching for Ararat elsewhere, I do not know where they have got this idea from but all historic maps show that Mount Ararat is here." The "Noah" Hollywood film, which is about to go on general release, has been causing controversy. Officials in Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have announced the movie won't be shown in local cinemas because it could offend viewers. In the US, conservative Christians prompted Paramount Pictures to add a disclaimer to its marketing material saying that "artistic license has been taken" in telling the story. The film, which cost well over 100 million dollars to make, is set to hit cinemas in America on 28 March 2014.

• published: 21 Mar 2014
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