Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots (World Heritage Site in Armenia)

Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots 

Brief Report

The cathedral and churches of Echmiatsin and the archaeological remains in site Zvartnots graphically illustrate the evolution and development of the Armenian central domes cross-hall type church, which have an enormous impact on architectural and artistic development in the region.

Wide Report

The religious buildings and the archeological relics of Etchmiadzine and Zvartnotz manifest the establishment of Christianity in Armenia and evolution of a completely specific Armenian ecclesiastical architecture, characterized by the cross-shaped building with central dome, which profoundly influenced the architectural and artistic development of all this region.

The cathedral Saint-Etchmiadzine is the oldest place of Christian worship as Armenia. It was built between 301 and 303 by Grigor Lousavorich, the founder of the apostolic Armenian Church with Vagharshapat, which was at the time the capital and the religious center of Armenia. \n It acted in the beginning of an arched basilica, but various political events carried to its partial destruction and its reconstruction according to the current cruciform plan, realized into 480. In 618, its cupola out of wooden was replaced by an identical stone cupola which was preserved,  \nalmost without change, until our days.  This one rests on four massive pillars, connected to the external walls by slim arcades; those on the northern side go back to 4th and 5th centuries. The bell-tower on three floors builds vis-a-vis the Western entry dates from the 17th century. \n The rotundas with six columns resting on formed bases by four pillars, built at the beginning of the 18th century against the apses north, is and southern, confer on the cathedral the aspect of a construction with five cupolas.

The church Saint-Hripsimeh offers a perfect example of cruciform plan to central cupola. Its essential characteristics are the fundamental harmony of its plan and its proportions, as well as the simplicity and the classical purity of its frontages, which are principal qualities of the Armenian architecture of the Early middle ages. \n Except the construction of a bell-tower at the 18th century, the monument did not undergo any fundamental transformation.  The church Saint-Gayaneh is characterized by his slim and delicate proportions. During the 17th century, one rebuilt a cupola and various ceilings, as well as a vast gantry used like place of burial for the most eminent members of the Armenian clergy, built along his Western frontage.

The archaeological site of Zvartnotz represents a single example of Armenian architecture of the beginning of the Christian era. The construction of the crowned building was started with Catholicos Nerses III, around the middle of the 7th century. \n After having given up a time, into 652, with the episcopal throne, it took again its functions into 658 and completed into 662 the construction of the church with its defensive appendices secular and its walls. Zvartnotz exerted a considerable influence on the architecture of this time, but also on that of the following centuries. \n Of circular plan, and comprising three stages, it did not borrow from the former, cruciform churches and with central cupola, that its cruciform internal plan, which fits in a circular external wall towards the interior, but polygonal towards outside. \n The church of Zvartnotz and the buildings which depended on it, destroyed by an earthquake during the course of Xe century, were rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century by the architect Thoros Thoramanian, who is the author of the first reconstruction project.

Historical Data

The religious buildings and archaeological remains in Echmiatsin and site Zvartnots witnesses of the implantation of christianity in Armenia and the development of a unique Armenian church architecture, the Armenian central domes cross-hall, which have an enormous impact on architectural and artistic development of the region.  The Cathedral of the Holy Echmiatzin is the oldest Christian worship in Armenia, build in 301-3 of Gregor Lousavorich, the founder of the Armenian Apostolic church, in Vagharshapat, the capital and religious center of Armenia. It was originally a vaulted basilica, but after a serious damage as a result of political unrest it was given its present late Gothic cruciform basilica plan during restoration work in 480. In 618 wooden bubble was replaced by an identical copy in stone that survive almost unchanged. The weight is supported by four huge independent pillars connected by thin arcades in the exterior walls; that on the northern side was one of the 4th and 5th century. A three-tier tower was built for the western entrance in the 17th century. The six-column rotundas on four pillars bases, built at the beginning of the 18th century on the northern, eastern and southern apses, give a five-domed cathedral.

The Church of St Hripsimeh plan is the perfect example of late Gothic cruciform basilica and central dome. The dominant feature is the harmony of layout and proportions, as well as the simplicity and classic purity of the facades, the excellent qualities of the Armenian architecture of the high Middle Ages. Apart from the addition of a bell tower from the 17th century, the monument has undergone no fundamental transformation. The distinctive features of the Church of St Gayaneh are slim and delicate relations. A dome and roofs were rebuilt in the 17th century, when a spacious vaulted gallery was built along the western facade as a graveyard for the most prominent Armenian clergy.

The site Zvartnots Archaeological Site is a unique example of the Armenian architecture of the early Christian period. Building of the temple is started by Catholicos Nerses III in the mid 7th century. For a time after was relinquishing Catholicossal throne in 652, but after his return in 658 he completed the construction of the temple with its secular annexs and the ramparts in 662. Site Zvartnots exerted a large influence on the architecture not only of his own time, but also that of later centuries. Circular in plan and three-tier, its only loans in previous late Gothic cruciform basilica and central bubble churches was the interior late Gothic cruciform basilica plan, which was located in walls which are round on the inside but polyhedral on the outside. The remains of site Zvartnots and associated buildings, destroyed by an earthquake in the 10th century, were found at the beginning of the 20th century by the architect Thoros Thoramanian, which the first reconstruction.

Source:whc/unesco