Group tour: Etchmiadzin and Zvartnots

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. "According to tradition, the main church was built in the place where Miadzin descended, Etchmiadzin. In Gregory's vision, Christ shows the place of the main temple with a golden hammer. The oldest cathedral in the world, founded in 303, was destined to become an important witness and participant in the history of the Armenian people. Being the most important center of the Armenian Church's world network, the Etchmiadzin Cathedral is now represented by a large area, including many old and new churches, secular structures, libraries, a seminary, etc."

   1 h

2. The series of glorious churches of the seventh century continues with St. Gayane, which was founded only 12 years later than St. Hripsime. This church, built in 630, was built on the grave of a Christian virgin who died in Armenia at the end of the 3rd and the beginning of the 4th century, about 3 centuries after her death. The church was restored in 1652. There are many coffins in the yard, among them famous military and cultural figures of the Armenian people.

   1 h

3. According to experts, Saint Hripsime's architecture is considered one of the best Armenian examples. Here, for the first time, Armenian niches providing seismic resistance were used. The construction of the huge church was completed in 618, leaving behind a great architectural legacy, the details of which are still used today.

   1 h

4. Despite being destroyed, Zvartnots continues to be unique in terms of its spiritual, cultural and architectural significance. This huge church named after the angels had been built for 9 years and consecrated in 652. The wonderful temple with a height of 46-49 meters was destroyed, probably as a result of an earthquake, after which such churches were no longer built in Armenia. The real appearance of Zvartnots was unknown for a long time until architect T. Toramanian proposed the real initial form of the church, which was later proven by other historical facts.

   1 h

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 78 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Yerevan

• Its from-price is 82% below the median of the 337 day trips we list in Yerevan.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 37 of 337.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Yerevan

Yerevan is Armenia's pink-stoned capital, a city of wide squares, café terraces and museums, with Mount Ararat standing on its southern skyline.

The city grew around Erebuni, a fortress founded in 782 BC, though most of today's centre was built in the Soviet era from the soft pink and orange tuff that earned Yerevan its nickname, the Pink City. Republic Square is the hub, framed by government buildings and museums. The Cascade, a giant stairway of terraces and sculpture, climbs a hillside, and the Matenadaran holds a famous collection of medieval manuscripts.

Top-ranked sights in Yerevan: Republic Square, Tsaghkadzor Ropeway, Matenadaran (Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts).

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