"Holy Echmiadzin Cathedral--Echmiadzin, Yerevan, Armenia" Waymark

Long Description:
Holy Echmiadzin is a cathedral built in the years 301 to 303 AD, soon after Christianity was established as the official state religion of Armenia. It is said that St Gregory, known also as the Holy Illuminator as he enlightened King Tridat and led him to Christianity in 301, had a vision of Christ coming down from the clouds and striking the ground at Echmiadzin with a golden hammer, thus designating the location of the new church. It is currently part of an eclesiastic compound of the Holy See of the Armenian Apostolic Church, much like the Vatican is for the Roman Catholic Church. The Patriarch (called "Catholikos")of the world's 7 million Armenian Orthodox resides here. The compound is also home to several smaller chapels as well as a monastic institute. The cathedral is home to one of the Armenian church's finest choirs, which can be heard weekly at mass, which is called the Badarak. Armenian traditional worship services are similar to the old High Mass of the Latin churches, in that the entire liturgy is sung, led by the priest and deacons, with choir solos and responses. The liturgical music is based on very ancient Armenian music tradtions, and listening to the Badarak is a mystical experience that will draw your spirit back to a very ancient time and place in Armenian Christian history, even if you aren't familiar with the Armenian language itself!

In addition to an octagonal dome which rests on four stone pillars rising from the center of the church, the cathedral also has a prominent bell tower, which is not always a part of smaller Armenain churches. The entire cathedral and surrounding compound is built with multicolored volcanic tufa stone. In the courtyard surrounding the cathedral are extenisve rose gardens. The rose is a sacred flower in the Armenian church, and rose oil is a component of holy Muron, the annointing oil used in the church.

Type of Orthodox Church: Eastern Type of Building: Church Status of Building: Actively in use for worship Date of organization: 01/01/301 Date of building construction: 01/01/303 Associated Icons, Reliefs, art, etc.: Not listed Diocese: Republic of Armenia Archdiocese: Holy Echmiadzin Address: Catholicosate of All Armenians Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Vagharshapat, Yerevan Armenia 0001 Web Address: Relevant Website

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