Etchmiadzin Cathedral, Museum "Treasures of Etchmiadzin", Churches of St. Hripsime and St. Gayane
As is known, Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as an official religion in 301. Therefore, during your visit to Armenia, we suggest that you take the opportunity to visit the very first Christian cathedral in the world, Echmiadzin, which is located just 21 km from Yerevan, in the center of the city of Vagharshapat.
According to legend, the first Catholicos of all Armenians, Gregory the Illuminator, had a vision in which he saw Christ descending from heaven with a golden hammer in his hand. With this hammer, Christ showed him the place where the first Christian church was to be built in place of the destroyed pagan temple. Gregory did so, and the place was named Echmiadzin, which means "Descent of the Only Begotten".
The next stop of the tour is the Monastery of St. Hripsime, which is located only 500 m from the Cathedral of St. Etchmiadzin and was built in 618, over the grave of the holy virgin. The church is a pearl of Armenian architecture.