Echmiadzin (st Gayane, Hripsime, Cathedral), Zvartnots

The Land of Noah

This tour will give you a chance to get acquainted with the peculiarities of Armenian Christianity, its rich history and heritage.

Saint Hripsime Church

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Visiting Armenia doesn’t count until you pay a visit to Etchmiadzin. This tour will give you a chance to get acquainted with the peculiarities of Armenian Christianity, its rich history and heritage.

The first destination of the tour will be St. Hripsime church, which was built on the grave of a Christian nun, who preached and spread Christianity in Armenia. The next spot is 7th century church of St Gayane.
Later you will visit the world’s first Christian Cathedral - Echmiadzin. The word “Echmiadzin” means a place where “the only begotten son of God descended”. According to a legend, Jesus Christ descended from heaven and indicated the spot for a church to be built. Echmiadzin is the residence of the Supreme Catholicos of all Armenians and the center of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The last destination of our tour is one of the brightest landmarks of medieval Armenian architecture – the magnificent Zvartnots Temple constructed in the 7th century. All these churches and the temple are listed on the UNESCO World’s Cultural Heritage Sites.