Aruch Cathedral

The Aruch Cathedral (Church of Saint Gregory) is one of the most significant monuments of early medieval Armenian architecture, located in the eastern part of the village of Aruch. Thanks to historical records and the construction inscription preserved on the church’s eastern façade, the name of the founder and the date of construction are precisely known. According to these sources, Aruch Cathedral was built by Prince Grigor Mamikonyan and his wife Helena in the 660s of the 7th century. The Church of Saint Gregory is a domed hall-type structure built on a three-stepped foundation. The dome is missing today, and although the cathedral still stands, it is partially ruined. By its size, this church is the largest among the domed hall-type structures of the early medieval period. The church has entrances from the north, south, and west, and is built of black, finely cut tuff stone. The importance of Aruch Cathedral in Armenian architecture is emphasized by its frescoes, which are considered among the finest examples of early medieval Armenian painting. Unfortunately, only small fragments of these frescoes have survived.