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Echmiadzin
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Etchmiadzin, also Echmiatsin, Echmiadzin, Ejmiatsin is the spiritual centre of Armenia and the seat of the Catholicos of All Armenians, the head of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church. It is the most populous city in Armavir province, about 20 km west of Yerevan. The 1989 census counted the population of Etchmiadzin as 61,000; it has declined considerably since: 56,388 in the 2001 census, and an estimated 52,757 in 2008.
The city originated as Vardkesavan or Vardgesavan in the 4th or 3rd century BC.
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Encyclopedia
Etchmiadzin, also Echmiatsin, Echmiadzin, Ejmiatsin is the spiritual centre of Armenia and the seat of the Catholicos of All Armenians, the head of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church. It is the most populous city in Armavir province, about 20 km west of Yerevan. The 1989 census counted the population of Etchmiadzin as 61,000; it has declined considerably since: 56,388 in the 2001 census, and an estimated 52,757 in 2008.
The city originated as Vardkesavan or Vardgesavan in the 4th or 3rd century BC. King Vagharsh (117-140) had the name changed to Vagharshapat , which still persists as the official appellation of the city. Several decades later the city became the capital of Armenia and remained the country's most important city until the 4th century AD.
Over the centuries the city has borne several other names, including: Avan Vardgesi, Artemed, Iejmiatsin, Kaynepolis, Kayrak’aghak’, Norak’aghak’, Uch’k’ilisa, Üçkilise, and Valeroktista.
Etchmiadzin Cathedral and Complex
Historically, the focal point of the city is the Etchmiadzin Cathedral, the oldest in the world. It was originally built by Saint Gregory the Illuminator as a vaulted basilica in 301-303, when Armenia was the only country in the world the state religion of which was Christianity.
According to the 5th-century Armenian annals, St. Gregory had a vision of Christ descending from heaven and striking the earth with a golden hammer to show where the cathedral should be built. Hence, the patriarch gave the church and the city the new name of Echmiadzin, which may be translated as "the place where the Only Begotten descended".
In 480, Vahan Mamikonian, the Roman governor of Armenia, ordered the dilapidated basilica to be replaced with a new cruciform church.
In 618, the wooden dome was replaced with a stone one, resting on four massive pillars linked to exterior walls by arcades. This was the church much as it is today.
Murals in the interior and extravagant rotundas surmounting the apses appeared in the early 18th century. A three-tier belfry was constructed half a century earlier.
The cathedral formerly boasted the largest collection of Armenian medieval manuscripts, but these were lately handed over to the Matenadaran.
Immediately west of the cathedral is the Gate of St. Tiridates, leading to the imposing patriarchal palace. To the northeast, with buildings both within and outside the enclosure, is the Spiritual Academy. Several Khachkars are north of the cathedral.
The Etchmiadzin Cathedral is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Other Churches in Etchmiadzin
Apart from the Etchmiadzin cathedral, the city of Ecthmiadzin contains two highly important and very ancient churches:
- The church of St. Gayane, which is distinguished by its harmonious proportions. It was constructed in AD 630 in Etchmiadzin by Catholicos Ezra. The design remains unchanged despite partial enlargement in the 17th century with renovations to the dome and of some ceilings.
- The church of St. Hripsime was built in AD 618 and survives basically unchanged. It is considered as one of the oldest surviving churches in Armenia, and is known for its fine Armenian architecture of the classical period, which influenced many other Armenian churches.
- Nearby, just a few kilometers away is also the archaeological site of Zvartnots Cathedral famous for its unique design. The church was built between AD 643 and 652 by Catholicos Nerses III (nicknamed the Builder). Zvartnots was a majestic cathedral dedicated to St. George at the place where a meeting between king Trdat III and Gregory the Illuminator was supposed to have taken place.
In AD 930, the church was ruined by an earthquake, and remained buried until its rediscovery in the early 20th century. The site was excavated between 1900 and 1907, uncovering the foundations of the cathedral as well as the remains of the Catholicos palace and a winery. The interior of the fresco-decorated church had the shape of a Greek cross with three aisles, while the exterior was a 32-sided polygon which appeared circular from a distance.
The churches of St. Gayane, St. Hrispsime and the archeological site of Zvartnots, are, just like Etchmiadzin Cathedral, listed among the World Heritage Sites designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO.
See also
External links
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- - article by the Armenian Enlightenment Chronicle
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