Etchmiadzin Cathedral (Mother See)

The Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, in the city of Vagharshapat, is the spiritual heart of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians. According to tradition it was first built between 301 and 303 AD by St. Gregory the Illuminator, just after Armenia adopted Christianity as a state religion, making it one of the oldest cathedrals in the world. The name means "the descent of the Only-Begotten," recalling Gregory's vision of Christ striking the ground here. Rebuilt and embellished over the centuries, the complex includes a treasury museum with revered relics and the Gevorgian Theological Seminary. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major pilgrimage destination.