If you happen to be in the Vargharshapat region of Armenia, otherwise known as Etchmiadzin, one of the sites you should also visit is the Church of Saint Gayane. An UNESCO World Heritage Site as of 2000, this historical 7th century church honors a Christian nun who was one of 39 others who were considered Armenia’s first martyrs as Armenia was converting to Christianity. St. Gayane was tortured and martyred due to rejecting the advances of the Armenian King Trdat.
Gayane and 39 others were Christian nuns in Rome in the early 4th century when Christianity was spreading. Fellow abbey Hripsime caught the attention of the Roman Emporer Diocletian due to her beauty and was to be forced into marriage with him. Instead, Hripsime and Gayane, along with the other nuns escaped the Emperor Diocletian’s reign and fled to Armenia. The pagan King Trdat at the time discovered their location and fell in love with Hripsime and then Gayane due to their youth and beauty. Both rejected the advances of King Trdat and were eventually tortured and martyred. Gayane was executed at the site of where the church was built. The small mound where Gayane lost her head still stands today.
St. Gayane’s final resting area is downstairs. You can reach this area by walking to the right side of the church and encounter the staircase. As you walk down the stairs you can see the stone pillar used to decapitate the condemned. Next you see the tiny tomb of Gayane and frescoes of Christian images on the wall.
Near the entrance to St. Gayane’s Church you see an ancient khachkar (cross stone) and frescoes. On the sides of the church are the stone coffins of important members of the church. The Etchmiadzin region is considered the spiritual center of Armenia and all the famous and historic sites are within walking distance of each other.
Happy traveling.