Echmiadzin Cathedral, Churches of St. Hripsime and St. Gayane, Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery
Etchmiadzin Cathedral, Churches of St. Hripsime and St. Gayane
In the very heart of Vagharshapat – one of the most significant cultural and religious centers of Armenia, like the Vatican in the center of Rome – the Holy Mother See of Etchmiadzin is located. It is not only the spiritual capital of the Armenians but also the first Christian church in the world! As you know, in 301 Armenia was the first in the world to proclaim Christianity as the state religion, and in the same year, the foundation stone of the future temple was laid during the reign of King Trdat III.
Garni Fortress, Geghard Monastery
We suggest going across time and space, from paganism to Christianity, from the pagan temple of the Sun God in the first century to the "cave monastery" Geghardavank, which name derives from Longinus' spear. The Roman centurion pierced the corpse of Jesus Christ on the Cross with this spear, and the Apostle Thaddeus transported its point to Armenia, along with many other relics. This shrine was once kept in the Geghard monastery complex (which means "spear" in Armenian), but currently, it is kept at the Etchmiadzin museum.