Zvartnots Cathedral

By Thong Do
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04 Sep, 2016
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One of the other main sites to see if you are in the Etchmiadzin region is the Zvartnots Cathedral. Only minutes away from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is another UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s worth checking out. Zvartnots Cathedral was built in the mid 7th century and is currently in ruins. The remains of this once great complex were discovered in the early 20th century. Between 1901-1907 archeologists discovered that not only did a 3-floored tetraconch cathedral exist but the remains of a Catholicos palace and a winery did too.

According to historians, the location for the construction was chosen here because it was the meeting place of King Trdat III and Gregory the Illuminator. Gregory the Illuminator was credited for being the religious leader who converted Armenia to paganism to Christianity in the early 4th century. Zvartnots translates as “celestial angels” and was built by Catholiclos Nerses the Builder. The purpose of Zvartnots Cathedral was to rival and out bling the Mother Cathedral of Etchmiadzin with its architectural style and design.

*this is the wooden replica Zvartnots Cathedral inside the museum*

The first thing you notice when entering the area is a long pathway and then some steps leading to the base of the cathedral. Pillars are still standing and you are able to see the design engraved in the stone. Standing in the center you begin to see how big the cathedral was. It’s worth to get the tour and have the guide explain the unique history of the Zvartnots complex. Afterwards we walked to the area that used to be the Catholicos Palace as well as the winery area. In the ground you could see where they would store the hundreds of liters of wine. The tour guide then takes you the museum and where many of the artifacts are on display. The most impressive site to see was a tiny replica of Zvartnots Cathedral made of wood and gives you a great idea of how it would it looked in its glory. Historians have said that an earthquake in the 10th century destroyed the magnificent piece of architecture.

In the background of the Zvartnots complex is Mount Ararat. Mount Ararat used to be a part of Armenian territory but now lies in Turkish territory. The weather was not that great when I was there and was unable to get a clear photo but the scenery is quite nice. Couples getting married stopped by here to do some wedding photos too! The area is historic and one of the most important cultural sites in Armenia. Walking through history always gives me joy and definitely check out this UNESCO World Heritage Site if you are in the region.

Happy travels.