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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Beautiful Vagharshapat (Ejmiatsin) Armenia; Image Gallery



Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin (Armenian: Մայր Տաճար Սուրբ Էջմիածին Mayr Tajar Surb Ejmiatsin; originally known as the Holy Mother of God Church, Armenian: Սուրբ Աստուածածին Եկեղեցի Surb Astvatsatsin Yekeghetsi) is a 4th century Armenian church in the town of Ejmiatsin, Armenia. It is also the central cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Etchmiadzin Cathedral is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Etchmiadzin Cathedral is the oldest state-built church in the world. The original vaulted basilica was built in 301-303 by Saint Gregory the Illuminator when Armenia became the first officially Christian country in the world. Gregory had converted King Tiridates III and members of his court.



Saint Hripsimé Church (Armenian: Սուրբ Հռիփսիմէի եկեղեցի) is one of the oldest surviving churches in Armenia. The church was erected by Catholicos Komitas atop the original mausoleum built by Catholicos Sahak the Great in the year 395 AD that contained the remains of the martyred Saint Hripsimé to whom the church was dedicated. The structure was completed in the year 618 AD. It is known for its fine Armenian architecture of the classical period, which has influenced many other Armenian churches since. This church together with other nearby sites is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is located in the present day city of Vagharshapat, (Etchmiadzin), Armenia in the Armavir Province.


The Church of Saint Gayane (Armenian: Սուրբ Գայանէ եկեղեցի; pronounced Surb Gayane) is a 7th century Armenian church in Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin), the religious center of Armenia. It is located within walking distance from the Etchmiadzin Cathedral of 301. St. Gayane was built by Catholicos Ezra I in the year 630. Its design has remained unchanged despite partial renovations of the dome and some ceilings in 1652.

Gayane was the name of an abbess who was martyred with other nuns by Tiridates III of Armenia in the year 301, and subsequently made a saint of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
St. Gayane is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List 2000.


















The Church of Shoghakat (Armenian: Շողակաթ եկեղեցի; meaning "drop of light" because of the ray of light that came down from heaven upon Hripsimé's martyrs) was erected in 1694 by Prince Aghamal Sorotetsi during the time of Catholicos Nahabed I in the present day city of Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin), in the Armavir Province of Armenia. This church together with other nearby sites is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.











Zvartnots Cathedral (Armenian: Զուարթնոց in TAO and Armenian: Զվարթնոց in RAO; meaning "celestial angels") are the ruins of a seventh century centrally-planned aisled tetraconch type Armenian cathedral built by order of the Catholicos Nerses the Builder from 641-653. It is located at the edge of the city of Etchmiadzin in the Armavir Province of Armenia.









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