Etchmiadzin Cathedral
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Etchmiadzin Cathedral is the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, located in the city dually known as Etchmiadzin and Vagharshapat, Armenia. Constructed at the turn of the fourth century, i
Etchmiadzin 2025 3
An aerial view of the cathedral and the Mother See complex surrounding it from a plane
A closer aerial view
An engraving of Etchmiadzin in the late 17th century by Jean Chardin (from 1811 edition)․
Gregory the Illuminator
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Gregory the Illuminator was the founder and first official head of the Armenian Apostolic Church. He converted Armenia from Zoroastrianism to Christianity in the early fourth century, making Armenia t
Etchmiadzin Cathedral
…the world. The original Etchmiadzin church was built in the early fourth century—between 301 and 303 according to tradition—by Armenia's patron saint Gregory the Illuminator, following the adoption of Christianity as a state religion by King Tiridates III. It was built over a pagan temple, symbolizing the conversion from…
A 10th century bas relief of St. Gregory at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross of Aghtamar (Akdamar), Lake Van (today Turkey)
The Baptism of the Armenian People (1892), by Ivan Aivazovsky
A miniature of Gregory and Trdat (as a boar) by Vardan Baghishetsi on a manuscript from Baghesh, Vaspurakan, c. 1569–70
Etchmiadzin Cathedral, 17th century