Day trips from Yerevan

Etchmiadzin is one of the most important religious sites in Armenia. Here, you can visit the Etchmiadzin Cathedral, widely regarded as the oldest Christian church in the world. Built in the 4th century, the cathedral was considered to be built in the middle point between heaven and earth. . Inside the church is a stunning marble table that symbolizes the exact spot where Jesus Christ descended from the heavens.

The cathedral has undergone numerous renovations and has been subjected to several attacks throughout its history. For instance, during the Persian reign, the cathedral faced a looming threat of destruction, which Armenians sought to prevent by carving the likeness of the Shah, Persia's king. Upon encountering this depiction of their ruler on the cathedral wall, the Persians ultimately opted to spare the church.

Today, the cathedral also houses a museum where you can find the spear that is said to have killed Jesus Christ, brought by Saint Geghard from Rome as well as a piece of the Noah's Arc.The church and its museum are definitely worth a visit for anyone interested in religious history or ancient architecture.

Saint Hripsime Church (Սուրբ Հռիփսիմե եկեղեցի) is a historic church in Armenia that was completed in the 7th century. It was the first church to have an earthquake-resistant structure, which was a significant achievement in its time. The priest who built the church was killed, likely due to religious persecution, and his remains are buried inside the church. 

Legend has it that Saint Hripsime, a Christian nun who had fled from Rome, was martyred along with 39 other nuns for their faith in the 3rd century AD. It is said that when they arrived in the territory of the Armenian king, Trdat III, he became enamored with Hripsime and demanded that she marry him. Hripsime refused, and Trdat ordered her execution. The church built in her honor was erected on the site where she was buried, and it became an important pilgrimage site for Armenian Christians.

Having the widest dome in all of Armenia, this church was built in the shape of a cross, with rooms built on all four ends of the cross (prayer sites and tombs). The manuscript inside the church is also of great historical significance, but it is challenging to translate because there are no spaces between the letters, and a small extract can encode for many words.

Geghard Monastery, originally known as Ayrivank, was founded in the 4th century by Gregory the Illuminator at the site of a sacred spring in a cave. It was destroyed by Arabs in the 9th century and later suffered damage from earthquakes. The main church, St. Gregory the Illuminator, was built in 1215 by the generals of Queen Tamar of Georgia and a gavit and series of chapels were added in the mid-13th century by Prince Prosh Khaghbakian. The monastery housed relics, including the spear that wounded Christ, which made it a popular place of pilgrimage for Armenian Christians. The site was restored for tourism but still attracts pilgrims. The only surviving work of art is the legendary spear, housed in a 17th-century gilded silver case in the museum of Echmiadzin monastery.