Description
The construction of the cathedral is associated with King Tiridates III and Catholicos Saint Gregory the Illuminator. According to legend, Tiridates III ordered the stoning of 35 nuns, after which he went mad. One of the imprisoned Christians, named Gregory (later known as Gregory the Illuminator), healed him and converted him to Christianity, after which the entire population of Armenia followed their ruler’s example. According to the legend, the site for the temple was revealed to Gregory by Jesus Christ Himself, which is where the name originates. Before that, pagan rituals and worship of local gods were held here.
Built in the 4th-5th centuries, the cathedral is considered one of the oldest Christian cathedrals in the world. Throughout its history, it has undergone numerous reconstructions. Initially, like other churches, it was a rectangular building, but it was later rebuilt into a central-domed cathedral. Over time, the building was supplemented with a bell tower, rotundas, a sacristy, and other structures.