Shoghakat Church

Shoghakat Church, built in 1694, is the latest of Vagharshapat's historic churches and completes the constellation of sanctuaries around Etchmiadzin. Its name means "drop of light" or "falling of light," referring to a luminous vision linked to the site, where another of the Christian virgins is said to have been martyred. A compact single-nave church of warm tufa with an attached bell tower and arcaded porch, Shoghakat is admired for its refined late-medieval detailing and serene setting. Tucked away near the larger early churches, it is often quieter, rewarding visitors who seek out all the sacred sites of Armenia's spiritual capital.