Entrance to Etchmiadzin Cathedral

The photograph shows the entrance to Etchmiadzin Cathedral. The arch and vault of the entrance are covered with rich carving and patterns, the wooden double door is carved, and above the door there is a two-line Armenian inscription. Twisted columns stand on both sides, there are wall paintings in the niches of the walls, and a lamp hangs from above.

The cathedral is one of the first in the Christian world and among the oldest in Armenia. Its construction began in the 4th century under the leadership of Gregory the Illuminator, the first Armenian Catholicos, who brought Christianity to Armenia. The monastic complex is located in the city of Etchmiadzin (Vagharshapat) in the Armavir region. The cathedral was originally a basilica; today it is a cross-domed church with 3 altars. Since 2000 the complex has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List.