Holy Mother of God Cathedral, Vagharshapat

Holy Mother of God Cathedral Սուրբ Աստվածածին Մայր Եկեղեցի
The belfry and the entrance to the cathedral
Basic information
Location	Vagharshapat, Armavir Province, Armenia
Affiliation	Armenian Apostolic Church
Architectural description
Architectural type	Single nave basilica with no dome
Architectural style	Armenian
Completed	1767
Specifications

The Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God (Armenian: Սուրբ Աստվածածին Մայր Եկեղեցի) is a church located in the town of Vagharshapat, Armenia and the seat of the Armavir diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It was built in 1767 during the period of Catholicos Simeon I of Yerevan, on the remains of a 16th-century wooden church. It is located at the centre of modern-day Vagharshapat, around 200 meters north of the walls of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

History and architecture

Prior to the construction of the church, a 16th-century wooden church used to stand on the same point of the modern-day cathedral. According to a description left on a stone in one of the internal walls of the church, Holy Mother of God was built in 1767 with the initiation of Catholicos Simeon I of Yerevan.

The church belongs to the type of single nave basilicas with no dome. Many khachkars (cross stones) composed during the 18th century, were placed in the external walls of the church. The churchyard was home to a religious school.

During the Soviet period, the church remained active and witnessed a major renovation in 1986 through the efforts of Catholicos Vazgen I, when a belfry was built at the entrance as it never had a belfry prior to this renovation.

Gallery

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  Backside view

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  Kachkars on the external walls

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  Side view of the belfry