Mother Cathedral of Etchmiadzin. Etchmiadzin Monastery, 1977

Armenia

The Echmiadzin Monastery, located in Vagharshapat, Armenia, comprises the Echmiadzin Cathedral, Saint Hripsime Church, Saint Gayane Church, Shoghakat Church, a refectory, the Catholicos' residence, a school, a guesthouse, a stone-lined reservoir, and other structures. Two ancient intricately carved khachkars from the 13th and 17th centuries also stand on the grounds. Originally built in 303 AD by Saint Gregory the Illuminator, Echmiadzin Cathedral was reconstructed in stone during the 5th and .. Read more »7th centuries. A bell tower was added in the 17th century and a vestry in 1869. The cathedral features frescoes from the turn of the 18th century and houses a museum, established in 1955, showcasing medieval decorative art. Saint Hripsime, Saint Gayane, and Shoghakat Churches are said to commemorate early Christian martyrs. The majestic Saint Hripsime Church was erected in 618 AD. Saint Gayane Church, built in 630 AD, had a three-arched annex added in 1683. Shoghakat Church, built in 1694, replaced a 4th-century chapel.