The Churches of Echmiatsin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots
The Churches of Echmiatsin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots
The Churches of Echmiatsin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots
4.5
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4.5
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LuizDutraNeto
Rio de Janeiro, RJ8,570 contributions
Sept 2019
Visiting Vagharshapat and its complex of churches, museums and ruins is absolutely a must at any trip to Armenia. You can start with the "Zvartnots Temple" - the ruins of the old church consecrated to "Saint Gregory the Illuminator" and now known as the "Cathedral of the Celestial Angels". Then visit two different churches devoted to two of the first martyrs of Christianity, "Saint Hripsime" and "Saint Gayane", both nuns and deeply venerated in Armenia. Then, visit the "Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin" complex, the seat of the "Catholicos of All Armenians" (the Pope of the Armenian Apostolic Church), with the "Cathedral of Echmiadzin", which is actually closed for renovations and will remain so until probably 2022. But you can visit its exteriors, gardens, other buildings and, principally, the "Alex and Marie Manoogian Treasury House Museum", which simply is the Treasury of the Armenian Apostolic Church, with its awesome collection of important religious objects. This collection includes the precious "Holy Spear" which, according to legends, is the spear that wounded Jesus Christ at the Crucifixion and was brought to Armenia by Saint Jude Thaddeus. Isn't that enough? If it isn't, just remember that the "Mother Sea of Holy Echmiadzin" complex, including the ruins of the "Temple of Zvartnots", are all Unesco's appointed "World Heritage Sites"! Enjoy!
Written 28 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lee K
Prairie Village, KS1,093 contributions
Jun 2024 • Friends
The cathedral was closed for renovation but the museum was open. Fortunately our tour manager served as our guide and she gave us a great understanding of the exhibits.
This was the first church constructed after Christianity was established in the country in 301.
This was the first church constructed after Christianity was established in the country in 301.
Written 7 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elie M
Jdeideh, Lebanon83 contributions
Both places can be visited through Bus.
If you are staying in Yerevan, you should head to Kilikia Bus Station mainly with Bus number 67 or mini-bus 75 a.
From Kilikia, there are mini-buses heading towards Edjmiacin each half an hour. You can stop the mini-bus 2 miles away from the airport cross and pass by the Zvartnots Cathedral.
When you finish you regain the main high way to continue towards Edjmiacin.
Zvartnots is a very beautiful place, well organized and educational. The museum is a must see. (Entrance 1000 AMD, if you want to take pictures you should pay 1000 AMD).
Edjmiacin complex is probably the essential location to get to know Armenian Christians and their history, no entrance fees.
When you finish the bus stop is straight in front of Edjmiacin's Cathedrals walls. The same type of mini-buses will take you back to Kilikia bus station (the trip costs 350+350=700 AMD).
If you are staying in Yerevan, you should head to Kilikia Bus Station mainly with Bus number 67 or mini-bus 75 a.
From Kilikia, there are mini-buses heading towards Edjmiacin each half an hour. You can stop the mini-bus 2 miles away from the airport cross and pass by the Zvartnots Cathedral.
When you finish you regain the main high way to continue towards Edjmiacin.
Zvartnots is a very beautiful place, well organized and educational. The museum is a must see. (Entrance 1000 AMD, if you want to take pictures you should pay 1000 AMD).
Edjmiacin complex is probably the essential location to get to know Armenian Christians and their history, no entrance fees.
When you finish the bus stop is straight in front of Edjmiacin's Cathedrals walls. The same type of mini-buses will take you back to Kilikia bus station (the trip costs 350+350=700 AMD).
Written 27 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bentley1Seattle
Seattle110 contributions
One can only wonder. The Churches of Echmiatsin in themselves hold awesome historical significance for Christianity, Armenia and the world. Zvartnots can only stand alone in the design, the representation of it's time and the majesty of it's structure. To this Armenia with over 1,700 churches and monestaries holds at every kilometre living history to the Christian faith and it's transistion over the centuries. Visit the Country. UNESCO should make it a "living landscape" outdoor museum to humanity.
Written 25 February 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SurreyGirl27
Addlestone, UK1,153 contributions
Oct 2016 • Friends
Zvartnots is a newly excavated byzantine site which has been sympathetically restored in part. Historic value is impossible to rate and it is a site not to be missed to understand the religious beginnings of Armenia. Accessible from Yerevan via public transport.
Complex of buildings and structures with cathedrals and churches and a pagan temple.
Complex of buildings and structures with cathedrals and churches and a pagan temple.
Written 31 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katrien S
Ghent, Belgium1,944 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
Zvartnots was only discovered in the 20th century and is the ruin of a 6th century cathedral that for a while took over from Echmiadzin cathedral, before being ruined in the 10th century and abandoned. Today part of the columns and arches are standing yet again, and on a clear they mount Ararat appears spectacularly in the background. This cathedral was byzantine in architecture and use, in the sense that baptisms were done in the cathedral here, which is not the case elsewhere in Armenia. Also, the cathedral was round and had a double colonnade of arches. There is a small museum on site showing architecturally similar churches, most of which have been demolished or badly damaged as they are located in modern day Turkey. Also some of the mosaic tiles and other decorations and a model of the cathedral are displayed. The cathedral had very nice stone carvings, and some of these can still be seen outside, note particularly the eagles. Some of the columns in too poor a condition to re-erect are laid out two dimensionally next to the ruins. Finally there are some stones of the pagan temple(?) that stood here before the cathedral on display.
Written 25 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marqoos_pl
Dublin, Ireland8,328 contributions
Sept 2010
Zvarnots ruin complex is located few km outside of Yerevan, on they way to Echimiadzin. You can see both of them during the same trip. This is UNESCO World Heritage Site and ‘must see’ during your trip to Armenia. There is still quite a lot of stone houses, temples & other building. And the best part is, that Mt. Ararat (unfortunately on the Turkish side of the border) is just behind. Small entrance fee applies and you can receive nice ticket with some information and keep it as souvenir.
Town of Echimiadzin is just few km away. There are few places of interest, especially old churches, but the most important is cathedral. This is the most important place of Armenian Orthodox Church. Build in V century it still stands and amaze visitors. Surrounded by greenery and flowers, praying people and worshipers it is magical place to visit.
Walk around and you could find some khatchkars or carvings. Souvenir shop, toilets and snack-bar is in the complex. Remember, that this is holy place for many people, so proper clothing is required.
Other places worth visit are within few minutes walk and includes St. Hripsime church (VII cent.) and St. Gayane church (again VII cent.) and Shoghakat (XVIII cent.) with unsual for Armenia rococo-style altar. To see all of them and Zvarntoc you will need few hours. You can eat nice lunch in on of the local restaurants in central Echimiadzin.
I agree with previous comment, that all Armenia should be UNESCO designated site.
Town of Echimiadzin is just few km away. There are few places of interest, especially old churches, but the most important is cathedral. This is the most important place of Armenian Orthodox Church. Build in V century it still stands and amaze visitors. Surrounded by greenery and flowers, praying people and worshipers it is magical place to visit.
Walk around and you could find some khatchkars or carvings. Souvenir shop, toilets and snack-bar is in the complex. Remember, that this is holy place for many people, so proper clothing is required.
Other places worth visit are within few minutes walk and includes St. Hripsime church (VII cent.) and St. Gayane church (again VII cent.) and Shoghakat (XVIII cent.) with unsual for Armenia rococo-style altar. To see all of them and Zvarntoc you will need few hours. You can eat nice lunch in on of the local restaurants in central Echimiadzin.
I agree with previous comment, that all Armenia should be UNESCO designated site.
Written 15 May 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
white j
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia5,742 contributions
Apr 2019 • Friends
Built in 4-7th century, they are very important witness to the implantation of Christianity in Armenia. The remaining church is also with hundreds years history. When we arrived there, the church was under restoration. But we still enjoyed much the items exhibited in the museum
Written 29 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yoc11
Stockholm, Sweden96 contributions
Nov 2018
Ath the moment of writing, both the cathedral and the cathedral museum are closed until further notice (I could not get any concrete information abut reopening. In this situation Echmiatsin is rather unexciting. If one happens to be driving by, it is definitely worth a little stroll, definitely paying a visit to Surp Gayane church on the compound). There are additional fine old churches in Vagharshapat tow, of which. S Hirpsime, on the highway to Yerevan is definitely the finest.
Written 2 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kamran1975
Tehran, Iran380 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
After visiting Gehard and Garni, we left the eastern side of Yerevan and went to the west of the city to visit Echmiadzin cathedral.
Although there were scaffoldings which made the view a little bit unsightful, the beauty of this monument was still obvious.
The architecture and artistic interior paintings look familiar to Iranian visitors since they have lots of similarities with ancient churches and mosques in Iran.
The carved picture of Shah Abbas (Persian king in late 16th and early17th century) was really attractive for us and dates back the restoration to the era of persian rule...
Like the other churches and cathedrals, candles, icons and paintings are really attractive and relaxing as well.
Although there were scaffoldings which made the view a little bit unsightful, the beauty of this monument was still obvious.
The architecture and artistic interior paintings look familiar to Iranian visitors since they have lots of similarities with ancient churches and mosques in Iran.
The carved picture of Shah Abbas (Persian king in late 16th and early17th century) was really attractive for us and dates back the restoration to the era of persian rule...
Like the other churches and cathedrals, candles, icons and paintings are really attractive and relaxing as well.
Written 25 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Здравствуйте , скажите, пожалуйста, открыт для собор для посещения, или он в строительных лесах и за забором, как пишут ниже? Проходят ли службы , можно ли попасть в сокровищницу?
Written 31 January 2023
Is it possible to see the Zvartnots ruins outside the entrance before it opens?
(I have an early flight in and wanted to go here & Echmiadzin before heading into town to see other sights...)
Written 25 April 2018
Нина С
Kiev Oblast, Ukraine
Хотелось бы узнать о реставрации собора. Есть фотофиксация, где башенки в восточной части собора отсутствуют. Интересно, в каком году их восстановили.
Written 11 February 2015
Нина С
Kiev Oblast, Ukraine
Хотелось бы узнать о реставрации собора. Есть фотофиксация, где башенки в восточной части собора отсутствуют. Интересно, в каком году их восстановили.
Written 10 February 2015
Здравствуйте! Реставрация собора продолжается до сих пор. Внутри реставрация закончена, а снаружи частично собор закрыт лесами. Также вокруг построен комплекс сооружений религиозного назначения в течение последних пяти лет.
Written 11 February 2015
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