Saint Gayane Church In Armenia: History,Facts, & Services

? Saint Gayane Church is one of the oldest churches in Armenia and is located in Vagharshapat, the ancient religious capital of Armenia. The church was built by Catholicos Sahak Partev between 630 and 640 AD. In 1652 Queen Gayane renovated the church and dedicated it to Saint Gayane, making it one of the most important churches in Armenian religious history. Saint Gayane Church is a single dome church with two altars and a bell tower. The walls are decorated with frescoes and it houses relics that were brought from Jerusalem by Catholicos Sahak Partev in the 7th century. The altar is dedicated to Saint Nerses the Great and the main altar shows the Virgin with Jesus and two other figures. The Church has been in continual use since its construction and still provides services to its parishioners. During festivals such as Christmas and Easter, small theatrical performances are held inside to commemorate biblical events. Apart from services and celebrations, the church also houses a number of relics, including a piece of the True Cross and a piece of the stone used to close Jesus’s tomb. The Church is also a museum, open to the public year-round and is filled with artifacts such as ancient crosses and manuscripts. The church was partially damaged in an earthquake in 1988, but since then the structure has been restored and is now a valuable historical and cultural site.

Explore Armenia most popular tourist destination with us. Saint Gayane Church In Armenia: History,Facts, & Services,which is 35.14 km away from Armenia main town, is the most popular destination to add in your travel wishlist.

City:
Armenia
state:
Aghtamar.
country:
Armenia
country code:
AM
postcode:
0042