Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin and Archaeological Site of Zvartnots

The prime examples of Armenian Church designs are the Cathedral and Churches of Echmiadzin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots. Zvartnots Cathedral was built in the 7th century under the order of a builder named Catholics nurses. Zvartnots Cathedral is an aisled tetraconch type Armenian cathedral built in Armenia by Catholic nurses. Presently in ruins, it is located at the edge of the Armenian city of Vagharshapat, also known as Echmiatsin, a municipal community of Armavir Province of Armenia. The church of Echmiatsin is the first cathedral of Armenia and is the mother church of the national church (Armenian Apostolic Church). The Cathedral of Echmiatsin is located in the Armenian city of Vagharshapat, also known as Echmiatsin.

History of Zvartnots Cathedral

Years back, when more than half of Armenia was conquered by the Muslim Arabs, Zvartnots Cathedral was built. These Arabs were progressively acquiring the Sasanian Persia/Iran, which at that time included Armenia. Zvartnots Cathedral was built in the 7th century under the order of a builder named Catholics verses. Construction of this aisled tetraconch type Armenian cathedral began in 643 under the order of the Builder, Catholicos Nurses III. Presently in ruins, it is located at the edge of the Armenian city of Vagharshapat, also known as Echmiatsin, which is also a municipal community of Armavir Province of Armenia. 

The Armenian historian Movses Kaghankatvatsi says that the Zvartnots cathedral was dedicated in 652. According to him, from 653 to 659, the construction of the Zvartnots cathedral was continued under the order of Anastas Akoratsi as Nurses were in Tayk. Catholicismerses transferred the Catholicos’ patriarchal palace from Devin to Zvartnots because of the war between Byzantine and Arab armies. Zvartnots existed for around 320 years but. In the 10th century, it collapsed. Still, the reason for the collapse of the Zvartnots cathedral is debated. Earthquakes and Arab raids are the most argued reasons for the collapse of the Zvartnots.

History of Churches of Echmiatsin

The Echmiatsin cathedral was built near the royal palace in the Armenian city of Vagharshapat, also known as Echmiatsin, between 301 and 303. The church of Echmiatsin was built on the location of a pagan temple. The Kingdom of Armenia in the fourth century became the first country to adopt Christianity under the rule of Tiridates III. Armenia’s supporter Saint Gregory, the Illuminator, believes that Jesus Christ is coming down from heaven and hitting the earth with a golden hammer to show where the cathedral should be built. Hence, the church was given the name of Echmiatsin, which means “the Descent of the Only-Begotten”, which translates to the Son of God. Until the 15th century, the name Echmiatsin was not used. It was earlier known as the “Cathedral of Vagharshapat.” The Feast of the Cathedral of Holy Echmiatsin is celebrated by the Armenian Church just 64 days after Easter. The Armenian church marks the feast of the Echmiatsin cathedral. During the feast, a special song is sung. This hymn was written by Catholicos Sahak III and told about the vision of St. Gregory’s and the cathedral’s construction. 

In 1955–56 and 1959, Alexander Sahinian, the Armenian architectural historian, found remains of the original buildings of the 4-century as well as two pillar bases. This was all discovered when the archaeological excavation of the cathedral was going on. After studying these findings, Sahinian declared that similar to the basilicas of Kasakh, Ashtarak, and take, the original church had been a three-naved vaulted basilica. However, Sahinian’s beliefs were not accepted by the other historian scholars. Suren Yeremian and Armen Khatchatrian were the two scholàrs who believed that the original church was in the form of a rectangle, including a dome supported by four pillars. As per the view of Stepan Mnatsakanian, the original cathedral had been a canopy built on a cross.

Conclusion 

The prime examples of Armenian Church designs are the Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin and the archaeological site of Zvartnots. In the informative article, we have tried to cover a piece of brief information about the Zvartnot cathedral and its history. After reading this article, one will also learn about the history of the church of Echmiatsin. We have also discussed the opinions of the scholar and historians on the remains of the original buildings of the 4-century as well as the two pillar bases of Echmiatsin, which Alexander Sahinian founded during the archaeological excavation.