ETCHMIADZIN — the sacred place where, according to tradition, the Only Begotten Son of God descended and marked the site of the first Christian cathedral with a blow of his divine hammer.
Armenia became the first nation in the world to adopt Christianity as its state religion in the year 301. At the very spot of the divine sign, the cathedral was constructed between 301 and 303 AD.
The Mother Cathedral of Etchmiadzin stands 38 meters tall, 30 meters wide, and 34 meters long. It is the spiritual center of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians.

SAINT HRIPSIME MONASTERY - According to tradition, forty virgin disciples of Saint Gregory the Illuminator served Christ and refused to marry pagan Roman suitors. They traveled throughout Armenia to spread the light of Christianity.
King Tiridates fell in love with one of them, Hripsime, and attempted to take her by force. He struggled with the beautiful young woman all night, but by morning he was found exhausted — she had miraculously resisted him and escaped. Enraged, the king ordered the capture and execution of all forty virgins.
Later, by divine will, Tiridates was healed by Gregory the Illuminator. As a result, he converted to Christianity and proclaimed it the official religion of Armenia.
To honor the martyr Hripsime, a church was built in her name. As an act of repentance, the king himself carried massive stones from Mount Masis for its construction.
The church built by Tiridates is not only an architectural masterpiece — it is a silent stone of prayer. Inside, visitors can find the tomb of Saint Hripsime, a powerful symbol of sacrifice and faith.