Beau Monde Service & Travel Agency

Christianity in Armenia - During thousands of years many important events have taken place in Armenia but probably the most significant one was the adoption of Christianity in 301AD as state religion.
Initially, King Trdat III, like his predecessors, opposed the new religion. He ordered the arrest of St. Gregory,one of the most prominant initiators of  Christianity, and imprisoned him in the dungeon of Khor Virap [lit. the deep pit] near sacred Mount Ararat. In 303 AD, St. Gregory initiated the construction of the Mother Cathedral of the Holy City of Etchmiadzin. According to the tradition the place was specified by Jesus Christ the Only Begotten Son Miadzin, hence, the name Echmiadzin meaning descended from the heavens.

Wood and stone for building the cathedral were brought from the Mount Ararat,where Noah landed with his ark.
Nowadays a particle of Noah’s Ark, placed into a precious cross, is stored in the treasury of Echmiadzin along with other relics and handwritten gospels.