Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, Yerevan

Not to be confused with Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church, Yerevan.

Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral
General view of the Cathedral of Saint Gregory the Illuminator
Basic information
Location	Tigran Mets Avenue, Kentron, Yerevan, Armenia
Geographic coordinates	40°10′19″N 44°31′01″E / 40.172003°N 44.516836°E / 40.172003; 44.516836Coordinates: 40°10′19″N 44°31′01″E / 40.172003°N 44.516836°E / 40.172003; 44.516836
Affiliation	Armenian Apostolic Church
Year consecrated	September 23, 2001
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Active
Leadership	Catholicos of All Armenians
Architectural description
Architect(s)	Stepan Kurkchyan
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Armenian architecture
Groundbreaking	1997
Completed	2001
Capacity	1700
Height (max)	54 m (177 ft)

The Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral (Armenian: Սուրբ Գրիգոր Լուսավորիչ մայր եկեղեցի, Surb Grigor Lusavorich mayr yekeghetsi), also known as the Cathedral of Yerevan is currently the largest cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the world, effectively making it the current largest Armenian cathedral. It is located in the Kentron District (Central District) of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, and considered to be one of the largest religious buildings in the South Caucasus along with the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi (known as the Sameba Cathedral). Adjacent to the General Andranik metro station, it's visible from the numerous corners of Yerevan.

History

The cathedral was constructed by the initiative of Catholicos Vazgen I. Its construction started on April 7th, 1997 with a ground blessing service conducted by Catholicos Karekin I.^[1] The church complex was designed by the architect Stepan Kurkchyan and the construction was completed in 2001.

The consecration of the cathedral took place on September 23rd, 2001, on occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as a state religion of Armenia^[1] The cathedral houses the relics of Saint Gregory the Illuminator and the Holy Remains of St. Gregory that were brought from Naples, Italy. Shortly after the consecration of the cathedral, Pope John Paul II paid a visit to the cathedral.^[2]

Architecture

The huge cathedral is a complex consisting of three churches: the Cathedral (Main Church) with 1700 seats and the Chapels of St. Tiridates the King and of Saint Ashkhen the Queen (both with 150 seats). These two royal figures were the crucial helpers of St. Gregory in converting Armenia to Christianity. The belfry tower (which consists of more than 30 arches) and the court are located at the entrance of the Cathedral. The halls for both the receptions and church-related activities are provided on the lower floor of the Main Church.

The total area of the complex is around 3,822 square meters, while the height of the cathedral from the ground to the top of the cross is 54 meters.^[3]

The Main Church of the complex was built by the donation of Richard Alexander Manoogian and Louise Manoogian Simone, in the memory of their defunct father, philanthropist, entrepreneur and former AGBU President Alex Manoogian and his wife Marie Manoogian.^[1] On the other hand, the construction of the two chapels of the complex was completed by the donation of Nazar and Artemis Nazarian and Kevork and Linda Kevorkian, while the belfry was erected by the donation of Eduardo Eurnekian.

Gallery

The cathedral is built from orange-coloured tufa stones from Ani
The stone slab with an inscription in Armenian language
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, dome
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, Altar
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, stained-glass window
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, stained-glass window
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, stained-glass window
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, stained-glass window

References

1 2 3 http://asbarez.com/42657/louise-simone-and-richard-manougian-donate-2-million-to-yerevan-cathedral-project/ Louise Simone and Richard Manougian Donate $2 Million to Yerevan Cathedral Project
↑ http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/homilies/2001/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_20010926_yerevan-st-gregory.html APOSTOLIC VOYAGE IN ARMENIA, ECUMENICAL CELEBRATION, HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II. Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator, Yerevan, 26 September 2001
↑ "Yerevan churches". Official Website of the Yerevan Council. Retrieved 2009-08-24.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cathedral of Yerevan.

Contemporary Armenian churches and seminaries

Armenia	Gevorkian Theological Seminary Vaskenian Theological Academy Yerevan Holy Trinity Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral Saint John the Baptist Saint Sarkis (Kentron) Saint Sarkis (Nor Nork) Saint Anna Church Gyumri Holy Mother of God Church of the Holy Saviour Vagharshapat Church of the Holy Archangels Oshakan Saint Mesrop Mashtots Cathedral Abovyan Saint John the Baptist Church

Nagorno Karabakh	Ghazanchetsots Cathedral Kanach Zham

Georgia	Tbilisi Church of the Holy Seal Church of the Red Gospel Ejmiatsin Holy Mother of God (Bethlehem) Saint George Saint Gevorg of Mughni Saint Karapet Saint Stephanos Chugureti St. Astvatsatsin

Lebanon	Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia Armenian Catholic Patriarchate

Syria	Church of the Holy Mother of God Cathedral of the Forty Martyrs of Sebastia St. Hagop Church St. Gregory the Illuminator Church Holy Trinity Church Holy Cross Church Armenian Genocide Memorial Church (Der Zor)

Azerbaijan	Saint Elishe Saint Gregory of Baku

Iran	Saint Sargis

United States	Church of Our Savior, Worcester Holy Trinity Church, Fresno St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church St. Vartan Cathedral Saint Sarkis of Dearborn

Other countries	Austria Mekhitarist Monastery of Vienna India Armenian Church, Chennai Armenian Church of the Holy Nazareth Italy Mekhitarist Monastery of Venice (San Lazzaro) Santa Croce degli Armeni Ukraine Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Singapore Saint Gregory

Armenia Portal

Yerevan landmarks

Historic and other landmarks	Shengavit Settlement Erebuni Fortress Teishebaini Katoghike Tsiranavor Church of Avan Yerevan Red Bridge Yerevan Ararat Wine Factory Yerevan Brandy Factory Komitas Pantheon Mother Armenia Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial Yerevan Cascade Yerevan TV Tower Yerablur Cemetery

Places of worship	Katoghike Church Zoravor Church Saint John the Baptist Church Blue Mosque Saint Sarkis Cathedral Russian Church of the Holy Mother of God Saint Sarkis Church of Nor Nork Saint Gregory Cathedral Holy Trinity Church Saint Anna Church Mordechai Navi Synagogue

Demolished structures	Saint Paul and Peter Church Yerevan Fortress Gethsemane Chapel Abbas Mirza Mosque Saint Nikolai Cathedral Shah Abbas Mosque Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church

Nature and parks	Hrazdan River Yerevan Lake Lovers' Park English Park Yerevan Botanical Garden Khachatur Abovyan Park Circular Park Victory Park Lyon Park Tumanyan Park Buenos Aires Park

Entertainment	Moscow Cinema Nairi Cinema Yerevan Circus Yerevan Zoo Yerevan Vernissage Yerevan Water World Dalma Garden Mall Yerevan Mall Rossia Mall

Culture, art and museums	Yerevan Opera Theater Sundukyan State Academic Theatre Hovhannes Tumanyan Puppet Theatre Stanislavski Russian Theatre Paronyan Musical Comedy Theatre Hrachya Ghaplanyan Drama Theatre Komitas Chamber Music House National Library of Armenia Khnko Aper Children's Library National Gallery of Armenia History Museum of Armenia Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Manuscripts Erebuni Museum Sergei Parajanov Museum Cafesjian Museum of Art Komitas Museum

Education	Yerevan State University National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia Komitas State Conservatory Armenian State Pedagogical University Yerevan State Medical University Armenian National Agrarian University National Polytechnic University of Armenia Yerevan State Linguistic University Armenian State University of Economics American University of Armenia Haybusak University of Yerevan French University in Armenia Russian-Armenian University Mkhitar Sebastatsi Educational Complex French International School QSI School Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian School Ayb School

Science and technology	National Archives of Armenia National Academy of Sciences Yerevan Physics Institute Yerevan Computer Research and Development Institute Armenicum Center CANDLE Synchrotron Research Institute Tumo Center for Creative Technologies Nerses Mets Medical Research Center

Sport venues	Armenia Sports Stadium Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium Hrazdan Stadium Alashkert Stadium Mika Stadium Banants Stadium Football Academy Stadium Yerevan Football Academy Tigran Petrosian Chess House Hovik Hayrapetyan Equestrian Centre Karen Demirchyan Complex Yerevan Velodrome Irina Rodnina Figure Skating Centre

Transportation	Yerevan Railway Station Trolleybuses in Yerevan Erebuni Airport Zvartnots International Airport Yerevan underground stations

Squares, streets and bridges	Republic Square Freedom Square Garegin Nzhdeh Square Aram Street Abovyan Street Mashtots Avenue Sayat-Nova Avenue Baghramyan Avenue Tamanyan Street Komitas Avenue Liberty Avenue Northern Avenue Victory Bridge Hrazdan Gorge Aqueduct Great Bridge of Hrazdan Davtashen Bridge

Government and financial institutions	Presidential Palace Government House National Assembly National Security Service Yerevan City Hall Constitutional Court Police of Armenia Central Bank Armenian Stock Exchange

Category:Yerevan

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