The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the worldwide Armenian Church.

The Mother Cathedral, founded by the Descent of Christ, built by St. Gregory the Illuminator and King Trdat III, has stood as a symbol against time of the Armenian faith, nation and people. No other silhouette is so instantly recognized by Armenians the world over.

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is a blend of our past, present and future.

The Main Altar in the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin in Armenia

Preserving the past are the numerous museums, libraries and the Mother Cathedral itself, all holding a vast richness of history and treasures. The Mother See is responsible for the preservation of artifacts, both those created by the Church and those given to the church as gifts over time. Pieces from our five museums are featured, and new items will be displayed each month.

Carrying on the work of our present and future are the innumerable departments and programs of the Armenian Church. Under the grace-filled leadership and guidance of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the Mother See administers to social, cultural and educational programs for Armenia and the Diaspora.

The Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin

The Etchmiadzin Cathedral is the oldest church built by the state in the world. It was originally built by Saint Gregory the Illuminator as a vaulted basilica in 301-303, when Armenia was the only country in the world whose state religion was Christianity.

According to the 5th-century Armenian annals, St. Gregory had a vision of Christ descending from heaven and striking the earth with a golden hammer to show where the cathedral should be built. Hence, the patriarch gave the church and the city the new name of Etchmiadzin, which may be translated as "the place where the Only Begotten descended."

In 480, Vahan Mamikonian, the Sassanian governor (marzban) of Armenia, ordered the dilapidated basilica to be replaced with a new cruciform church.

The Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin near Yerevan in Armenia

In 618, the wooden dome was replaced with a stone one, resting on four massive pillars linked to exterior walls by arcades. This was the church much as it is today.

Murals in the interior and extravagant rotundas surmounting the apses appeared in the early 18th century. A three-tier belfry was constructed half a century earlier.

The cathedral formerly boasted the largest collection of Armenian medieval manuscripts, but these were lately handed over to the Matenadaran, Armenia's state repository of ancient manuscripts.

Immediately west of the cathedral is the Gate of St. Tiridates, leading to the imposing patriarchal palace. To the northeast, with buildings both within and outside the enclosure, is the Spiritual Academy. Several Khachkars are north of the cathedral.

Etchmiadzin Cathedral is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

— Courtesy of the Armenian Church website and Wikipedia