Armenia - Etchmiadzin

Etchmiadzin - Armenia

Etchmiadzin is a spiritual capitol of Armenia, also called Holy City. It is located half an hour of drive form Yerevan. A marshrutka ticket cost 250-300 DRAM. The marshrutka departure from Kilikya Avtokayan every half an hour.

Etchmiadzin is a huge religious complex. There are churches, library, school for priests and museums. The most important church, Etchmiadzin Cathedral, founded in IV century. It is considered as the oldest Cathedral in the world.
In 2019 the cathedral were renovated and closed for pilgrims and tourists.

I recommend visiting two churches outside the complex in Vagharshapat:

• Saint Hripsime church - built in 618 and has survived almost unchanged. It is considered one of the oldest unchanged churches in Armenia, known for its fine architecture of the classical period. There are relics of the martyred Saint Hripsime in the church.
• Shoghakat  church - built in XVII century. It is built with red and black tufa stones, erected on the remains of a 6th-century basilica. The remains of a 4th-century small chapel are located at the southwestern end of Saint Shoghakat Church.

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

etchmiadzin cathedral complex

hripsime church

hripsime church

hripsime church

hripsime church

hripsime church

hripsime church

hripsime church

hripsime church

hripsime church

hripsime church

hripsime church

hripsime church

hripsime church

shoghakat church

shoghakat church

shoghakat church

shoghakat church

shoghakat church