Echmiadzin, which means the “The Descent of the Only Begotten Son”, is one of the ancient capitals of Armenia. According to legend, Gregory the Illuminator had a vision where Jesus Christ descended from heaven and with a golden hammer indicated the spot for a church to be built. Holy Echmiadzin Cathedral was erected in the 4th century (301-303) and is the oldest Christian church in Armenia. The Cathedral was built on top of the pagan temple of Vagharshapat, after it was destroyed by King Tiridates. In 301 Armenia was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as its state religion.
Echmiadzin Monastery is the residence of Armenian Catholicos and the religious center of Armenians. Tourists can also visit the Treasury of Echmiadzin where numerous relics, artifacts and ancient manuscripts are kept.
Echmiadzin Monastic Complex, St. Hripsime Church and the ruins of Zvartnots temple are included in the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites.
St. Hripsime, St. Gayane (7th century) and St. Shoghakat (17th century) Churches built in 7th are named after Christian nuns who escaped from Roman Empire to seek an asylum in Armenia in 4th century. Impressed by Hripsime’s unearthly beauty then pagan King Tiridates the Great asked her to marry him. After Hripsime’s refusal the king ordered to murder Hripsime and other nuns. St. Hripsime church is built in the site where she was martyred.
Sardarapat Monument is built on the site where Armenian forces won a narrow victory over an invading Turkish army in 1918. The Monument was built in 1968 and is guarded by massive winged lions. Sardarapat also houses the Ethnograpy Museum where various archeological artifacts are kept from Neolithic ages to contemporary days. The museum also contains a large collection of carpets, embroidery, jewelry, ceramics and other handicrafts. In front of the museum you can see a massive vishapakar (dragon stone) dating back to 2nd millennia B.C. which was a symbol of the pagan god of water.
The spectacular Zvartnots Temple built in the 7th century was destroyed by an earthquake in 10th century. Zvartnots means “Celestial Angels” and it used to be the highest Christian Church in the world in its time.