Echmiadzin Cathedral
Mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church
- Area Armavir
- Type Religious site
- Time needed 1h
Etchmiadzin Cathedral is the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the seat of the Catholicos of All Armenians, in Vagharshapat 26 km west of Yerevan. Founded in 301–303, it has a claim to being the oldest cathedral in the world.
Open in the planner →Getting there
Under half an hour from central Yerevan. Marshrutkas run frequently from Kilikia bus station to Vagharshapat; the cathedral precinct is a short walk from the centre of town.
What you see
The cathedral itself, much rebuilt over seventeen centuries, with a belfry of 1658 and a dome on the site of the original. The treasury holds relics including the lance said to have pierced Christ, brought from Geghard, and a fragment held to be from Noah's ark. Around the precinct are the seminary, the Catholicos's residence and a carved gate. Three of Armenia's most important early churches — Hripsime, Gayane and Shoghakat — are within a few minutes' drive.
What to pair it with
Zvartnots on the road back to Yerevan, and the three churches above. Sardarapat is 30 minutes further west for anyone making a full day of it.
When to go
Avoid service times if you want to see the interior freely, and expect restrictions during major feasts. Sunday morning liturgy is worth attending in its own right. The blessing of the holy oil, held every seven years, draws enormous crowds.
What is hard about it
The cathedral has been under extensive restoration in recent years and the interior has at times been closed or scaffolded — check before travelling. It is an active religious centre rather than a monument, so access depends on what is happening that day. Dress modestly.
Common questions
Is Etchmiadzin the oldest cathedral in the world?
It is widely described as such, having been founded around 301–303. Little of the original fabric survives in what stands today.
How far is Etchmiadzin from Yerevan?
About 26 km, under 30 minutes by road.
What is kept in the Etchmiadzin treasury?
Relics including the Holy Lance from Geghard and a reliquary said to contain a fragment of Noah's ark.
Nearby
- Zvartnots Cathedral ruinsRuins of a 7th-century circular cathedral
- St Hripsime ChurchModel of classical 7th-century Armenian architecture
- St Gayane ChurchHarmonious 7th-century church in Echmiadzin
- Shoghakat ChurchSmall 17th-century church in Echmiadzin
- Sardarapat MemorialBattle memorial and ethnography museum
- MetsamorBronze Age metallurgy site and museum
More of the same kind
- Blue Mosque18th-century Persian mosque with a tiled courtyard
- St Gregory the Illuminator CathedralLargest cathedral in Armenia, consecrated in 2001
- Katoghike ChurchTiny 13th-century chapel, the oldest in central Yerevan
- Zoravor Church17th-century church in a quiet courtyard