Safe Travel Forum > Europe > Caucasus > Armenia > Central Armenia >
Echmiadzin means “place of Jesus’ descend”
Posted by SacVoyageTravel on Sunday, 26 September 2010
A fascinating tour
through the city of Ejmiatsin
city is available for you!
Ejmiatsin, formerly
Vagharshapat is situated not far from Yerevan and is revered by worldwide Armenians. It is the
center of Armenian Apostolic church. The city was founded in first half of II century, and
starting with 163 AD is considered to be the main religious and educational center of our
country. In 301 Armenia officially became the first country that adopted Christianity as a state
religion. That is why visiting Armenia first of all means to visit Ejmiatsin. Ejmiatsin is the
residence of Armenian patriarch – the Catholicos of all Armenians. His palace harmonizes with
the décor of the monastery yard, and don’t skip “Trdat’s Gates” right at the entrance. The gates
were reconstructed for many times, but at the basis they have stone blocks of IV century.
With us you will definitely visit the museum of Ejmiatsin that preserves saint relics,
parish clothes embroidered with gold and pearl, armchairs, crosiers and crosses of Catholicos,
numerous ritual objects made of gold, silver and ivory.
In addition there are also three ancient monuments in Ejmiatsin. As the legend tells the
temples were built in honor of martyrs, who escaped from the persecution of a Rome Emperor.
These three temples – Saint Gayaneh, Saint Hripsimeh, and Saint Shoghakat – places we are
wending our ways to – are situated close to each other, so to visit all the churches will
surprisingly came to the welcome round-up of Ejmiatsin.
Saint Hripsimeh church was founded in 618 AD, and immediately after - Saint Gayaneh
church (630 AD) which is considered to be one of the best memorials of Armenian architecture.
Right over the entrance you can see a saved mural about the birth of Jesus. The third church of
Saint Shoghakat is the youngest one; it was founded in 1694 and is more known as “a cupola
hall”.