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Yerevan
Private Tour to Echmiadzin,St.Hripsime & Gayane Churches, Zvartnots Temple
- Duration7 hours
- Max Travelers15 people
- Free CancellationUp to 24 hrs
- CategoryAdditional fees, Bus Tours
Overview
Visit churches of Echmiatsin and Zvartnots temple, which together make up a remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site! During this 5-hour private tour you will see a series of landmarks, from Echmiadsin Cathedral to Saint Hripsime Church, Saint Gayane Church, and the 7th-century Zvartnots Cathedral. Choose one of the presented individual tours, customized it or create your private tour in Armenia with Jan Armenia Tours and Travel! Book with us & Let us show you the Land of old Legends, Biblical Stories and Ancient History!
Gallery
What's included
Private transportation
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Bottled water
WiFi on board
Professional guide (if the guide option is selected)
Air-conditioned vehicle
Professional driver
What's Not included
Food and drinks
Lunch
Echmiadzin treasury museum
Zvartnots cathedral
Anything not mentioned in the u201cInclusionsu201d section
Itinerary
The first Christian cathedral of Echmiadzin was founded in the IV century BC, whose name means u201cplace of the descent of the Only Begotten.u201d A feature of the Cathedral is that in addition to the main altar in the eastern part, there is another altar in the middle, at the site of the descent of Christ. In the right-hand boundary of the Etchmiadzin Cathedral there is the Treasury Museum, where are kept relics, church clothes, embroidered with gold and pearls, catholicosu2019 staffs and crosses, numerous ritual objects made of gold, silver and ivory. On the territory of the monastery complex is also the residence of the Armenian patriarch u2013 the Catholicos of all Armenians. Also here you will see many cross-stones, of which u201cAmenaprakichu201d (1279), and the cross-stone devoted to the victims of the 1915 genocide.
The Temple of Saint Hripsime was founded in the 7th century by Catholicos Komitas I Aghtsetsi in the place of a sepulcher of Saint Hripsime. Since 2000 Saint Hripsime Temple has been included in UNESCO World Heritage List. Two prominent Armenian Cathlicoses are buried in the court yard of Saint Hripsime Temple. They are Catholicos Astvatsatur (1715-1725) and Catholicos Garaped II Oolnetzi (1725-1729).
St. Gayane Temple was built in honor of St. Gayane in the VII century on the place of IV century chapel, which is one of the best monuments of Armenian architecture. The relics of Saint Gayane are kept in the southern wall of the temple, next to the altar niche. Above the western entrance, there was preserved the murals of the 17th century on the theme of the birth of Christ. Near the Saint Gayane Temple there is a special room where animals are sacrificed and stabbed from the time of St. Gregory the Illuminator. This rite is called u2013 matah, which is customary to perform for any occasion: weddings, birth of a child, etc.
u0422he magnificent Zvartnots Temple, which mean u201cTemple of Vigil Forcesu201d, was built in the VII century. The temple was built for 20 years. Unfortunately, Zvartnots was destroyed by a powerful earthquake in the XX century and only its ruins remained. But even the ruins of this temple give us an idea of its rare and majestic beauty. Today the Zvartnots Temple is an archaeological reserve and museum founded in 1937, where you can see model-versions of the reconstruction of the temple, numerous sculptural fragments, impressive in size. The ruins of Zvartnots Temple are included in UNESCO as World Heritage Site.
Good to know
Specialized infant seats are available
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.