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St. Gayane Church

St. Gayane Church

Church

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22 km from Yerevan center

Region:

Armavir

Among the sacred landmarks of Etchmiadzin, the Church of Saint Gayane stands out as a quiet guardian of the memory of the first Christian martyrs. Rising just south of the Mother Cathedral, it marks the place where, according to tradition, the blood of Gayane, the mentor of Saint Hripsime, was shed in her ultimate testimony of faith.

In 630 AD, Catholicos Ezr ordered the construction of this church to honor the steadfast woman whose courage became a symbol of early Christianity in Armenia. Its architecture is serene and harmonious – a domed basilica that has endured through centuries. In 1652, it underwent a careful restoration, retaining its noble simplicity and later, a funerary gallery for high‑ranking clergy was added to the western façade, where every stone seems to breathe history.

Inside, the southern chapel near the altar enshrines the relics of Saint Gayane and the profound silence of the church feels like a veil over her eternal rest. Sunlight streaming through narrow windows dances across the ancient walls, creating the sense that time has stopped within.

This church is not only a spiritual symbol but also a part of world heritage: it is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and every visit here feels like a pilgrimage to the very roots of Armenian faith.