ABSTRACT
The great Apostolic Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, near Erevan was founded in the fourth century, on the site of a fire-worshippers’ temple. That ‘legend’ was validated in 1957 when archaeologists from the Armenian State Academy, revealed the fire-basket or grate and alter of the temple below the crypt of the cathedral, where a perpetual fire provided suitable incense to Ahura-Mazda. The building is of immense architectural interest, especially because of the many alterations and additions that have been made to it since its foundation. Thus, at the present day, the cathedral building incorporates more than one style of architecture. A scheme for its restoration was carried out by the Patriarch Kirakos in 1441. The west door and main entrance were added in 1658, whilst the sacristy at the end of the building was added in 1882. The cathedral is set in the centre of monastic buildings and the residence of the Katholicos.
