Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, Yerevan
Encyclopedia
Saint Gregory the Ilumminator Cathedral is the largest Armenian
church in the world and is located in the Kentron District
of Yerevan
in Armenia
. It is adjacent to the Zoravar Andranik metro station. It is also considered to be one of the largest religious buildings along with Sameba Cathedral in the South Caucasus.
, Italy
. Shortly after the consecration of the Cathedral Pope John Paul II
paid a visit to the Cathedral.
The cathedral has been constructed by the initiative of catholicos Vazgen I
. The construction started on April 7, 1997 with a ground blessing service conducted by catholicos Karekin I
. The church complex was designed by the architect Stepan Kurkchyan and the construction was completed in 2001.
(Terdat) III the King and of St. Ashkhen the Queen (both with 150 seats). These two royal figures were the crucial helpers of St. Gregory in converting Armenia to Christianity. The belfry tower (which consists of more than 30 archs)and the court are located at the entrance of the Cathedral. The halls for both the receptions and church-related activities are provided on the lower floor of the Main Church.
The total area of the complex is around 3,822 square meters, while the height of the cathedral from the ground to the top of the cross is 54 meters.
The consecration of the Cathedral - the symbol of the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as a state religion in Armenia - took place on September 23, 2001, and now, with its whole beauty and majesty, it is visible from the numerous corners of Yerevan.
The Main Church of the complex was built by the donation of AGBU founder Alek Manoukian, along with his wife Mary, and their son and daughter Richard and Louise Simon-Manoukian. On the other hand, the construction of the two chapels of the complex was completed by the donation of Nazar and Artemis Nazarian and Kevork and Linda Kevorkian, while the belfry erected by the donation of Eduardo Eurnekian
.
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
church in the world and is located in the Kentron District
Kentron District
Kentron is a district of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. It comprises the city center.-Gallery:...
of Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
in Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. It is adjacent to the Zoravar Andranik metro station. It is also considered to be one of the largest religious buildings along with Sameba Cathedral in the South Caucasus.
History
The Cathedral is the symbol of the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as a State Religion in Armenia and house for relics of Saint Gregory the Illuminator (Surp Grigor). The Holy Remains of St. Gregory were brought from NaplesNaples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Shortly after the consecration of the Cathedral Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
paid a visit to the Cathedral.
The cathedral has been constructed by the initiative of catholicos Vazgen I
Vazgen I
His Holiness Vazgen I was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1955 and 1994, in one of the longest reigns of the Armenian Catholicoi. A native of Romania, he began his career as a philosopher, before becoming a Doctor of Theology and a member of the local Armenian clergy...
. The construction started on April 7, 1997 with a ground blessing service conducted by catholicos Karekin I
Karekin I
Karekin I , served as the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1995 and 1999...
. The church complex was designed by the architect Stepan Kurkchyan and the construction was completed in 2001.
Architecture
The huge Cathedral is a complex consisting of three churches: the Cathedral (Main Church) with 1700 seats and the Chapels of St. TiridatesTiridates III of Armenia
Tiridates III or Diritades III was the king of Arsacid Armenia , and is also known as Tiridates the Great ; some scholars incorrectly refer to him as Tiridates IV as a result of the fact that Tiridates I of Armenia reigned twice)...
(Terdat) III the King and of St. Ashkhen the Queen (both with 150 seats). These two royal figures were the crucial helpers of St. Gregory in converting Armenia to Christianity. The belfry tower (which consists of more than 30 archs)and the court are located at the entrance of the Cathedral. The halls for both the receptions and church-related activities are provided on the lower floor of the Main Church.
The total area of the complex is around 3,822 square meters, while the height of the cathedral from the ground to the top of the cross is 54 meters.
The consecration of the Cathedral - the symbol of the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as a state religion in Armenia - took place on September 23, 2001, and now, with its whole beauty and majesty, it is visible from the numerous corners of Yerevan.
The Main Church of the complex was built by the donation of AGBU founder Alek Manoukian, along with his wife Mary, and their son and daughter Richard and Louise Simon-Manoukian. On the other hand, the construction of the two chapels of the complex was completed by the donation of Nazar and Artemis Nazarian and Kevork and Linda Kevorkian, while the belfry erected by the donation of Eduardo Eurnekian
Eduardo Eurnekian
Eduardo Eurnekian is an Argentinian businessman.-Rise to prominence:Eduardo Eurnekian was born to immigrants from Armenia, in 1932...
.