Armenia Converted to Christianity: Basic Info
Armenians adopted Christianity as their state religion in 301. Christianity was brought to Armenia by Saint Gregory the Illuminator or Saint Gregory the Enlightener (Գրիգոր Լուսաւորիչ), who was the first official head of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It’s due to him that Armenia was converted from paganism to Christianity.
Back in the 4th century the King of Arsacid Armenia was Tiridates III, also known as Tiridates the Great, whom Gregory the Enlightener baptized as a Christian. Afterward, Tiridates issued a decree, which gave the religious leader full rights to convert the entire Armenian nation to Christian faith. The majority of Armenians were baptized in Aratsani (upper Euphrates) and Yeraskh (Arax) rivers.
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral Construction
Armenia entered the 21st proudly carrying on its forehead the honor of being the first nation that was to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as its state religion. While alive Catholicos of all Armenians Vazgen I proposed that the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral (Սուրբ Գրիգոր Լուսաւորիչ Եկեղեցի) be built.
The construction was launched after Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin I performed a ground blessing service on April 7, 1997. The construction of the church was completed in 2001.
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral Features
Designed by architect Stepan Kurkchyan Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral is the largest Armenian church in the world. It represents a huge complex comprising three churches – The Cathedral or the Main Church, which comes with 1700 seats, and the Chapels of St. King Tiridates and St. Ashkhen the Queen both featuring 150 seats. Queen Ashkhen was an Iranian Princess who became the Queen of Armenia through her marriage to King Tiridates III.
The bell tower consists of over 30 archs. Together with the court the belfry can be found at the entrance of the Main Church. The lower floor of the main Church includes halls meant for both receptions and church related activities.The cathedral covers an area of around 3822 square meters (41,139 ft²). The height from the ground to the top of the cross measures 54 meters (177 feet).
The complex was built upon donations. The construction of the Main Church was funded by AGBU founder Alek Manukyan. The two chapels were built by the donation of Nazar and Artemis Nazarian and Kevork and Linda Kevorkian, and the construction of the bell tower was funded by Eduardo Eurnekyan.
The consecration of the cathedral was held on September 23, 2001. Afterward, Pope John Paul II visited the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. The cathedral stands as the symbol of the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as state religion in Armenia.
The cathedral houses the relics of Saint Gregory the Illuminator. The holy remains of the religious leader were brought there from Naples, Italy.
Being the largest Armenian Church, Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral stands in all its beauty. The cathedral can be reached via three ways, one of them being rather long. There are no trees along the way, so in summer reaching the cathedral might simply seem unbearable, especially if we consider the fact that Armenia has most expressed summers.
Location
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral is located in Kentron District, on Tigran Mets Avenue. It is close to the Zoravar Andranik underground station.
