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The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest national church. It 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 the early fourth century (traditionally in 301) in establishing this church.The church claims to have originated in the missions of Apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus in the 1st century and is an early center of Christianity.

50,000-dram banknote depicting Echmiadzin (2001)

Etchmiadzin Cathedral is the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, located in the city of Vagharshapat.

Gate of Saint Gregory

According to most scholars it was the first cathedral (but not the first church) built in ancient Armenia, and is considered the oldest cathedral in the world

Gate of Saint Gregory: built in 2001 to form the main entrance to the Mother See

Armenian Apostolic Church leaders conduct a canonization ceremony for victims of the Armenian genocide at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, on April 23, 2015 (Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)

Gate of Saint Gregory

Open-air altar: built in 2001 along with the Gate of Saint Gregory

Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Manuscript Depository: located near the main entrance of the complex, opened in October 2012

Armenian Genocide memorial: group of khackhars (cross stones) erected in 1965

Armenian Genocide memorial

Church of the Holy

Archangels: located in the

yard of Gevorkian Seminary building:

the single-domed church (designed by architect Jim

Torosyan) was consecrated in

2011

Covering an area of around 150,000 m², the complex includes the Etchmiadzin Cathedral, the vestry, residences, museums, Gevorkian Seminary, V. and T. Manoukian Library and many other amenities

Pilgrim’s fountain

Preparing the Ceremony: the Armenian Church has canonised 1.5 million people in what is believed to be the biggest ceremony of its kind in history. Thursday’s (2015, April 23) event took place in Echmiadzin, Armenia’s main church.

The icon of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide (painted by Tigran Barkhanajyan on the occasion of the Canonization ceremony) was consecrated on April 23, 2015 and will be kept at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

Gevorkian Seminary built in

1874. A new extension

designed by architect Jim

Torosyan was connected to the

old building in 2013

KhachkarsGate of King Trdat leading to the Pontifical Residence

Painting by Grigory Gagarin, 1847

Tombstones of Armenian Catholicoi

Tombstone of Armenian Catholicoi

Carved stonework, detail

Etchmiadzin was plundered by Shah Abbas I of Persia in 1604, when relics and stones were taken out of the cathedral in an effort to undermine Armenians' attachment to their land.

A major pilgrimage site, it is one of the most visited places in the country. Along with several important early medieval churches located nearby, the cathedral was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000

In 1903, the Russian

government issued an edict to

confiscate the properties of the

Armenian Church, including the treasures of Etchmiadzin.

Russian policemen and

soldiers entered and occupied the

cathedral

Due to popular resistance and the personal defiance of

Catholicos Mkrtich Khrimian, the

edict was canceled in 1905

The latest renovation of the cathedral began in 2012

The original church was built in the early fourth century - between 301 and 303 according to tradition—by Armenia's patron saint Gregory the Illuminator, following the adoption of Christianity as a state religion by King Tiridates III. It replaced a preexisting temple, symbolizing the conversion from paganism to Christianity.

The core of the current building

was built in 483/4 by Vahan

Mamikonian after the cathedral was severely damaged

in a Persian invasion

From its foundation until the second half of the fifth

century, Etchmiadzin was the seat of the Catholicos, the

supreme head of the Armenian Church

Archaeological excavations were held in 1955–56 and in 1959; the

cathedral underwent a

major renovation during this period. Wealthy diaspora benefactors, such

as Calouste Gulbenkian and Alex Manoogian,

financially assisted the

renovation of the cathedral.

Gulbenkian alone provided $400,000

A relief of Gregory the Illuminator on the cathedral

Sound: Djivan Gasparyan – Armenian duduk, prayer

Text: Internet

Pictures: Internet

Sanda FoişoreanuCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda