UNESCO Gems of Armenia: Echmiadzin, Hripsime & Zvartnots

Saint Hripsime Church is a seventh century Armenian Apostolic church in the city of Vagharshapat. It is one of the oldest surviving churches in the country. The church was erected by Catholicos Komitas to replace the original mausoleum built by Catholicos Sahak the Great in 395 AD that contained the remains of the martyred Saint Hripsime to whom the church is dedicated. The current structure was completed in 618 AD. It is known for its fine Armenian-style architecture of the classical period, which has influenced many other Armenian churches since. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with other nearby churches, including Etchmiadzin Cathedral, Armenia's mother church, in 2000.

Zvartnots Cathedral is a 7th-century centrally planned aisled tetraconch type Armenian cathedral built by the order of Catholicos Nerses the Builder from 643-652. Now in ruins, it is located at the edge of the city of Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin) in Armavir Province of Armenia.

The mother cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Etchmiadzin Cathedral, is situated in Vagharshapat (Ejmiatsin), Armenia. The original church was built in the early fourth century—between 301 and 303 according to tradition—by Armenia's patron saint Gregory the Illuminator, following the adoption of Christianity as a state religion by King Tiridates III.

The “Treasury of Echmiadzin” museum was designed by architect Baghdasar Arzumanyan and opened to visitors on October 11, 1982. The treasury-museum is a vivid example of new and unique elements in classical Armenian architecture. The “Treasury of Echmiadzin” is named after philanthropists and patrons of art Alec and Maria Manukyans, thanks to whose donations this wonderful project was successfully fulfilled. The bodies of the spouses now rest in the courtyard of the museum.