We then go to Etchmiadzin, the Holy See of Armenia and the residence of the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church – the Catholicos of All Armenians.
Located just 20 km west of Yerevan in the city of Vagharshapat, Etchmiadzin Cathedral is the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Founded between 301 and 303 AD by St. Gregory the Illuminator and King Tiridates III, it is widely considered the oldest cathedral in continuous Christian use in the world.
Etchmiadzin’s history is deeply intertwined with the identity of the Armenian people. Before the cathedral was built, the site housed a pre-Christian fire temple, with roots tracing back to the Urartian period. After Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion in 301 AD, the cathedral was erected on these ancient grounds. According to the fifth-century historian Agathangelos, St. Gregory the Illuminator experienced a vision of Christ descending from heaven and striking the earth with a golden hammer. This marked the exact spot for the altar, and the site was named Etchmiadzin, meaning "the place where the Only Begotten descended".
From its foundation until the late fifth century, Etchmiadzin served as the see (Jurisdiction) of the Catholicos, the supreme head of the Armenian Church. In religious terms, a "see" is the official seat, area of authority, or jurisdiction of a bishop or pope.
483 AD: After Persian invasions severely damaged the original basilica, Vahan Mamikonian rebuilt the core of the cathedral.
1441 AD: After centuries of virtual neglect, the catholicosate was restored at Etchmiadzin and has remained the active headquarters of the church ever since.
1604 AD: The complex was heavily plundered during the campaigns of Shah Abbas I of Persia, who attempted to sever Armenians' ties to their holy sites.
During the 20th century, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin navigated Soviet religious suppression. It managed to remain a functioning spiritual and diplomatic center under the leadership of Catholicos Vazgen I. In 1945, the Soviet government renamed the city to Etchmiadzin; though officially reverted to its historical name of Vagharshapat in 1995, it remains popularly known as Ejmiatsin.
Return to Tbilisi (5-6 hours). Drop off at your hotel in Tbilisi.
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