St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral
Largest cathedral in Armenia, consecrated in 2001
- Area Yerevan
- Type Religious site
- Time needed 30m
St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral is the largest church in Armenia, consecrated in 2001 for the seventeen-hundredth anniversary of Christianity as the state religion. It stands on a wide open terrace near Tigran Mets Avenue, visible from much of the southern centre.
Open in the planner →Getting there
About a kilometre from Republic Square, a couple of minutes by car or a fifteen-minute walk.
What you see
The scale is the first thing: a tall conical dome over a very large open interior, with two smaller chapels flanking the main church across the terrace. Inside it is spare and bright, with little of the smoke-darkened stone and crowded khachkars of the old monasteries. Relics of St Gregory, returned from Naples, are kept here.
What to pair it with
Works with Erebuni to the south and with the Republic Square sights on the walk back into the centre.
When to go
Any time of day. Services and major feasts fill it, which is when the building feels least like an empty hall.
What is hard about it
If you have already seen Geghard, Khor Virap or Echmiadzin, a modern cathedral in pale new stone can feel inert by comparison. The terrace is large, treeless and hot in summer.
Common questions
Is it worth visiting if I have limited time?
It is interesting mainly for scale and for seeing a living modern Armenian church. Older sites give more if your time is short.
Can I attend a service?
Yes, services are open to visitors. Dress modestly and stay at the back if you are not participating.
Are the relics on display?
Relics of St Gregory are kept in the cathedral. Whether they are visible depends on the day. [VERIFY — confirm current details]
Nearby
- Yerevan CascadeGiant limestone stairway with modern sculpture and city views
- MatenadaranRepository of ancient Armenian manuscripts
- Republic SquareYerevan's central square with musical fountains
- Erebuni FortressUrartian citadel from 782 BC, the birthplace of Yerevan
- Armenian Genocide MemorialHilltop memorial and museum to the victims of 1915
- History Museum of ArmeniaNational collection from prehistory to the modern era
More of the same kind
- Blue Mosque18th-century Persian mosque with a tiled courtyard
- Katoghike ChurchTiny 13th-century chapel, the oldest in central Yerevan
- Zoravor Church17th-century church in a quiet courtyard
- Karmravor ChurchTiny 7th-century church with original roof tiles