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Group tour: Etchmiadzin Mother Cathedral, St. Hripsime & Gayane, Zvartnots Temple

Itinerary

Etchmiadzin Mother Cathedral, St. Hripsime Church, St. Gayane Church, Zvartnots Temple

1. Meeting point: Hyur Service (Head Office) – 96, Nalbandyan str., Yerevan

Departure time: 10:00
If hotel pick-up is not required, please let us know and be at the meeting point at least 30 min before departure.

2. Etchmiadzin Mother Cathedral

50-60 min Read more: Etchmiadzin Mother Cathedral
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On the silent expanse of an ancient plain, beneath the watchful gaze of the mountains, rises the Mother See of Etchmiadzin a sanctuary where, legend says, heaven once touched the earth. According to tradition, Saint Gregory the Illuminator saw Christ in a vision, holding a golden hammer, striking the ground to reveal the place where a cathedral must be built. Thus was born Etchmiadzin "The Only Begotten Descended" destined to become the spiritual heart of Armenia.

3. St. Hripsime Church

20-30 min Read more: St. Hripsime Church
St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church St. Hripsime Church
Before the gates of ancient Etchmiadzin, on a sunlit hill, rises the Church of Saint Hripsime – a stone testament to a love for God stronger than fear or death. Legend speaks of the beautiful Hripsime, whose heart belonged not to earthly passions but to her faith. King Tiridates III, captivated by her beauty, offered her his hand and throne. Hripsime refused, choosing instead the path of devotion to Christ. Enraged, the king ordered her to be tortured and executed and the ground that drank her blood became sacred.

4. St. Gayane Church

20-30 min Read more: St. Gayane Church
St. Gayane Church St. Gayane Church St. Gayane Church St. Gayane Church St. Gayane Church St. Gayane Church St. Gayane Church St. Gayane Church St. Gayane Church St. Gayane Church St. Gayane Church St. Gayane Church St. Gayane Church St. Gayane Church St. Gayane Church St. Gayane Church St. Gayane Church St. Gayane Church St. Gayane Church St. Gayane Church
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.

5. Zvartnots Temple

30-40 min Read more: Zvartnots Temple
Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple Zvartnots Temple
Amid the plains of Armavir, with the majestic Mount Ararat rising in the distance, once stood Zvartnots – a 7th-century masterpiece that embodied the bold vision and brilliance of Armenian architects. Built upon towering columns, it astonished the world with its intricate design and grandeur that seemed centuries ahead of its time. For more than three hundred years, Zvartnots stood as a marvel, until an earthquake in the 10th century reduced it to silent ruins, leaving behind the enigma of a vanished wonder.

6. Arrival point: Hyur Service (Head Office)

Expected return: 14:00 – 15:00

Inclusions

  • Professional guide: ENG + RUS consecutively

  • Air-conditioned vehicles

  • Bottled water & pastries

  • Admission tickets

  • Wi-Fi in the vehicles

  • Vehicle & passengers insurance

Exclusions

  • Lunch stop

  • Hotel drop-off (final stop: our office)

Highlights

  • Explore incredible UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites
  • See the very first Christian cathedral in the World
  • On Sundays there is a chance to participate in liturgy

Practical Info

Will I have the chance to attend liturgy in the church of Etchmiadzin?

Please, note that the liturgy is held only on Sundays. Therefore, if you book this tour for that day, you will have the opportunity to attend the service.

Can I visit "Treasures of Etchmiadzin" museum during this tour?

You can, indeed, visit the "Treasures of Etchmiadzin" museum during your time at the Mother Cathedral, but, please, note that the entry ticket is not included in the price of our tour and is to be purchased on the spot.

What is the group size for this tour?

The group size varies, but typically ranges up to 48 participants.

Are there any clothing requirements or recommendations for this tour?

We recommend wearing comfortable sports shoes and dressing in weather-appropriate clothing for the tour; taking a jacket or coat is always a wise choice. Weather conditions in the regions can be significantly cooler than in Yerevan. Modest clothing is requested of women during visits to churches and monasteries.

Booking conditions

Cancellation & modification

Meet our Guides

Meline Sahakyan

Meline Sahakyan

HY EN ZH

Hi everyone! I'm Meline, and I'm a certified tour guide. If you want to visit and explore our beautiful country, Armenia, with a knowledgeable and sociable guide, it would be an honor for me to be your guide. Welcome to Armenia – Հայաստան.

Anna Harutyunyan

Anna Harutyunyan

RU HY EN

I'm Anna. Since 2010, I have been helping tourists not only discover Armenia's amazing uniqueness, the depth of its history, and the phenomenon of its existence, but also enjoy inner peace and harmony together with them.

Gayane Mkrtchyan

Gayane Mkrtchyan

RU HY EN

I'm Gayane – a small part of Armenia. Do you want to breathe in the scent of this land, feel the taste of our dishes passed down through centuries, hear the roar of endless rivers and the whisper of towering mountains, and why not, listen to the stories of our stone-carved monuments? Let's discover this ancient land together.

Arev Makhsudyan

Arev Makhsudyan

HY EN

My name is Arev (which means "Sun"). I am an English-speaking tour guide in Armenia, working since 2018. If you choose me as your guide, you will learn a lot about Armenian history, nature, culture, and traditions – and as a bonus, I'll perform Armenian traditional folk songs for you.

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