Armenia is the first Christian nation.
In AD 301 , Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion. It established a church that still exists independently of both the Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox churches. The Armenian Apostolic Church is a part of the Oriental Orthodox communion, not to be confused with the Eastern Orthodox communion.
During its later political eclipses, Armenia depended on the church to preserve and protect its unique identity.
The first Christian churches appeared in Vagharshapat (Echmiadzin), in Nakhijevan, in Artsakh
and other parts of Armenia
, often built upon the foundations of former pagan temples.
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Echmiadzin Cathedral, 301- 303, reconstructed in 408 and in the 17-th century, from the south-west . |
According to different accounts presented in ancient legends and in the History of Moses Khorenatzi, the first cathedral of St.Echmiadzin (now the official center of the Armenian Church) was built between 301 and 303. The exact design and place came to St.Gregory in a divine vision: Christ himself descended to the Ararat valley and struck with a golden hammer to indicate the future location of the cathedral.The name Echmiadzin means
'Only Begotten Descended'.
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Church of the Holy Cross on the island of Aghtamar of Lake Van.(IXth century)
Architect: Manuel.
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Armenian architects exploited the possibilities of stone masonry with great resourcefulness. By combining walls, pillars, arches and various other structural elements compatible with stone construction, they raised, fashioned and completed churches and buildings of monumental size.
The functional and aesthetic integration of the buildings with their natural surroundings were solved with great mastery. Whether
the churches were located in the open plain or on the hillside of a mountain, in the forest or a top of a rocky cliff. Their grand and noble design completed their natural backdrop and appeared to be part of the natural environment.
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Tatev Monastery,
(895 - 906 ) |
In these monasteries, the cultural and educational institutions of the period were centered. The schools and universities of medieval Armenia were functioning in Tatev, Sanahin and Gladzor.
Haghartsin Monastery in northern Armenia, Dilijan. 12-13 th centures.
Goshavanq Monastery,12th century.
Mchitar Gosh founded one of the oldest Armenian
Universities in this monastery.
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Surb Amenaprkich Ghazanchecoc, 1868 , Shushi, Nagorno Karabagh.
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Xor Virap,where St. Gregory The Illuminator was imprisoned for 12 long years. Later converted to a monastery.
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The remnants of the Mother Cathedral of
Ani , 990 , architect Trdat.
Trdat's fame as a master
builder spread beyond Armenia. In 989, the Byzantine Emperor invited him to try to restore the earthquake damaged dome of the Cathedral of Aya Sophia of the capital Constantinople. Trdat successfully solved the problem of rebuilding the dome according to lasting principles. The dome never collapsed ever since, having been hit by several massive earthquakes throughout for a period of over a millennium, and stands to this day very day.
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