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Photo: Beko, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Built in honor of one of the Christian virgins killed by the Armenian king, along with Hripsime, this smaller church with an arcade in front is a few blocks south of the Echmiadzin compound.
The Saint Gayane Church is a 7th-century Armenian church in Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin), the religious center of Armenia. It is located within walking distance from the Etchmiadzin Cathedral of 301. St. Gayane was built by Catholicos Ezra I in the year 630.
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Founded in 301 by St. Gregory the Illuminator and rebuilt and added to for over 1,700 years, Echmiadzin now is the heart of the Armenian Church, and seat of the Catholicos of all Armenians. The altar is built over an ancient Zoroastrian eternal flame that was uncovered during excavation works in 1950 (now accessible from the museum behind the altar), the inside has interesting frescoes, altar, lamps, and thrones. The intricate bell tower entrance is an addition from the 1800s, and the surrounding grounds have gardens with fine examples of khachkars from throughout Armenia and further. Near the new entrance gates are a few exquisite khachkar examples from Jugha (in Nakhchivan) - which at one time had by far the largest khachkar cemetery in the world until they were destroyed during the early 2000s by the Azerbaijani government. The Treasury is well-worth seeing, especially the Roman Geghard or "Spear used at the Cross".
Constructed in 1982. The museum is home to treasures of the Armenian Church throughout its history.
At the site of the present day church of Shoghakat, there stood an earlier church of the 6th or 7th century which has not survived. Current building was erected in 1694 by Prince Aghamal Sorotetsi. The name of the church comes from Armenian (Շողակաթ եկեղեցի) meaning "drop of light" because of the ray of light that is said to have come down from Heaven upon Hripsimé's martyrs.
An outstanding example of earlier Christian architecture, this 7th-century cathedral with soaring ceilings and vast interior space was an example for future architects.