Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is the spiritual and administrative center of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is home to the Mother Cathedral, which, according to the vision of St. Gregory the Illuminator, was founded by the Descent of Jesus Christ and built by St. Gregory and King Tiridates III between 301–303 AD, following the adoption of Christianity as the state religion. For over 17 centuries, the Cathedral has been a sacred pilgrimage site for all Armenians and symbolizes the eternity of the Armenian people. Holy Etchmiadzin is the residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians. Though initially established here, the Catholicosate was, due to historical circumstances, temporarily relocated to other regions over the centuries. In 1441, the Catholicosate was permanently reestablished in Holy Etchmiadzin. For centuries, the Mother See has preserved unique Armenian manuscripts and masterpieces of ancient and modern art. The Mother Cathedral of Etchmiadzin is located in the city of Vagharshapat, Armavir Province. According to scholars, it is the first Mother Cathedral of ancient Armenia and one of the oldest cathedrals in the world. According to various interpretations, the architectural layout of the cathedral included forms such as a three-nave basilica, a rectangular structure with a four-pier central dome, a canopy resting on four columns in the shape of a Holy Cross, and a barrel-vaulted hall—essentially, it was constructed in nearly the same layout as it stands today. Its cruciform, central-domed, four-apse, four-pillar Armenian design has made a significant contribution to world Christian architecture. This type of layout began to spread in Europe in the 9th–11th centuries. The current dome dates back to the 17th century, and its drum features relief portraits of the apostles carved into medallions on its twelve panels.