Echmiadzin
Encyclopedia
Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin ( Mayr Tajar Surb Ejmiatsin; originally known as the Holy Mother of God Church, Surb Astvatsatsin Yekeghetsi) is a 4th century Armenian church
in the town of Ejmiatsin
, Armenia
. It is also the central cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
of the Armenian Apostolic Church
.
Etchmiadzin Cathedral is listed among the UNESCO
World Heritage Site
s.
was built in 301-303 by Saint Gregory the Illuminator
when Armenia became the first officially Christian country in the world. Gregory had converted King Tiridates III
and members of his court.
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 Echmiadzin, 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.
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
in Yerevan
.
Other churches in Vagharshapat, Armenia (Etchmiadzin):
Armenian architecture
Armenian architecture is an architectural style developed over the last 4,500 years of human habitation in the Armenian Highland and used principally by the Armenian people.- Common characteristics of Armenian architecture:...
in the town of Ejmiatsin
Ejmiatsin, Armenia
Vagharshapat , commonly known as Ejmiatsin in Eastern Armenian and Echmiadzin in Western Armenian , is the fourth-largest city in Armenia and the spiritual centre of the Armenians, as it is the seat of the Catholicos of All Armenians, the head of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church...
, Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. It is also the central cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the worldwide Armenian Apostolic Church and the Pontifical Residence of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians....
of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
.
Etchmiadzin Cathedral is listed among the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
s.
History
The Etchmiadzin Cathedral is the oldest state-built church in the world. The original vaulted basilicaBasilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
was built in 301-303 by Saint Gregory the Illuminator
Gregory the Illuminator
Saint Gregory the Illuminator or Saint Gregory the Enlightener is the patron saint and first official head of the Armenian Apostolic Church...
when Armenia became the first officially Christian country in the world. Gregory had converted King Tiridates III
Tiridates III of Armenia
Tiridates III or Diritades III was the king of Arsacid Armenia , and is also known as Tiridates the Great ; some scholars incorrectly refer to him as Tiridates IV as a result of the fact that Tiridates I of Armenia reigned twice)...
and members of his court.
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 Echmiadzin, which may be translated as "the place where the Only Begotten descended".
In 480, Vahan Mamikonian, the Sassanian governor (marzban) of Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, ordered the dilapidated basilica to be replaced with a new cruciform church.
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
Armenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
medieval manuscripts, but these were lately handed over to the Matenadaran
Matenadaran
The Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts , commonly referred to as the Matenadaran , is an ancient manuscript repository located in Yerevan, Armenia...
in Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
.
Description
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.See also
- Armenian architectureArmenian architectureArmenian architecture is an architectural style developed over the last 4,500 years of human habitation in the Armenian Highland and used principally by the Armenian people.- Common characteristics of Armenian architecture:...
- Armenian Apostolic ChurchArmenian Apostolic ChurchThe Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
- Mother See of Holy EtchmiadzinMother See of Holy EtchmiadzinMother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the worldwide Armenian Apostolic Church and the Pontifical Residence of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians....
- Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
- Vagharshapat, Armenia, the city (formerly Etchmiadzin, Armenia)
Other churches in Vagharshapat, Armenia (Etchmiadzin):
- Saint Gayane Church
- Saint Hripsime churchSt. Hripsime Church, EchmiadzinSaint Hripsimé Church is one of the oldest surviving churches in Armenia. The church was erected by Catholicos Komitas atop the original mausoleum built by Catholicos Sahak the Great in the year 395 AD that contained the remains of the martyred Saint Hripsimé to whom the church was dedicated. The...
- Saint Shoghakat Church
External links
- St Etchmiadzin at Armenica.org
- UNESCO World Heritage Site profile
- World Gazeteer: Armenia – World-Gazetteer.com