Cathedral of Echmiadzin

 

Armenia was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as its state religion. Ejmiatsin is the residence of the Supreme Catholicos of all Armenians and the center of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The church was ultimately built in 303 and named Mother Cathedral of Holy Ejmiatsin (also spelled as Ejmiadzin or Etchmiadzin), translated from Armenian into English Ejmiatsin means "the descent/the coming of the Only Begotten Son." 

 

Holy Etchmiatsin is not a church just to visit as another destination of interest. It is where you light a candle, pray and be sure that you prays are heard high above in the heaven from where our Heavenly Father watches us takin care for our wellness. Both the cathedral and the garden around are simply marvelous and remarkable and full of spirituality. 

 

The center of Armenian Apostolic church - St. Echmiadzin is located 20 km far from Yerevan. According to the legend the church was built in the place where apparition of Jesus Christ was seen to Grigory the Illuminator in the dream. The interior of the church is covered with frescoes created by Hovnatanyan family. The residence of the Catholicos and the Theological Academy are situated near the Cathedral.

 

The Cathedral was built on top of the pagan temple of Vagharshapat, after it was destroyed by King Trdat.

Throughout the years the cathedral has faced a number of difficulties and strikes. In 360 Persian King Shapur II attacked Armenia and attempted to convert the cathedral into a Zoroastrian temple. As soon as Shapur’s forces left, Catholicos Nerses  the Great rebuilt the cathedral. After Armenian Alphabet was invented by Mesrop Mashtots in 405, Mesrobian Armenian language school was established. It was founded near the Catholicosate.

 

As you return to the cathedral on the northern face, you can see the different strata of construction, beginning with the main wall, which has blocks of stone from the original 301-303 AD edifice, inscribed in Greek, the language used before the adoption of the Mashtots Armenian Alphabet. You can also see angled cornices in the upper wall, which show where the original roofline was.

Every seven years, the rite of blessing of holy chrism is held here; thousands of believers come to Ejmiatsin as pilgrims from different parts of the world for this ceremony.

 

In 2001 when Armenia was celebrating the 1700th anniversary of adoption of Christianity, Pope John Paul II brought the relics of the first Armenian Catholicos there. For five hundred years the relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator had been kept in Naples, and now are in a cathedral of Echmiadzin.

 

As you visit Ejmiatsin, you should also walk to other 3 churches. St. Hripsimeh, St. Gayaneh and St. Shoghakat were built on the places where the holy maidens were executed. St. Hripsimeh only 2 kilometers east of Komitas Hraparak, and is the first stop by tourists visiting Ejmiatsin from Yerevan.