Etchmiadzin Cathedral
Էջմիածնի Մայր Տաճար
The mother church and seat of the Holy See of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Founded in the early 4th century, it is considered one of the oldest cathedrals in the world and was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2000.
Etchmiadzin Cathedral lies in the town of Vagharshapat, about 20 kilometres west of Yerevan. According to tradition, after the Armenian king converted to Christianity in 301 AD, Saint Gregory saw in a vision the place where Christ descended and indicated that a church should be built there. The cathedral was built between 301 and 303. Its name means 'the place where the Only-Begotten descended'. The present structure dates largely from a 5th-century reconstruction, followed by many repairs and additions. Its cruciform plan and central dome became the model for later Armenian churches. The complex is the residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians, the supreme patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and includes a seminary, palaces and gardens. Inside the cathedral are richly coloured 18th-century murals. The attached treasury holds relics said to include the Holy Lance (Geghard), which is said to have pierced the body of Jesus, and a piece of Noah's Ark wood (an additional ticket is required). The cathedral has undergone extensive restoration, so check whether it is open before your visit. The same World Heritage listing also covers the nearby churches of St. Hripsime and St. Gayane, and the ruins of the 7th-century Zvartnots Cathedral near the airport, and they are often combined into a half-day tour. Dress modestly, and women should cover their heads. Minibuses from Yerevan take about 30–40 minutes.
Opening hours
Approx. 07:30-20:00 (visits restricted during services)
Nearby sights
- Saint Gayane Church
- Saint Hripsime Church
- Zvartnots Cathedral
- Quba Mere Diwane (Yazidi Temple)
- Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex
- Hovhannavank
- Yerevan Brandy Company (Ararat)
- Sergei Parajanov Museum