Explore the breathtaking history and sacred treasures of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin—the oldest state-built Christian cathedral in the world. Built in 301 AD following a divine vision of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, Echmiadzin has served as the spiritual anchor of the Armenian nation for over 1,700 years.
In this deep-dive documentary, we go behind the stone walls of Armenia’s Vatican to examine its most extraordinary relics:
• The Holy Spear (Geghard) – The iron lance used by Roman centurion Longinus to pierce the side of Jesus Christ on the cross.
• The Fragment of Noah’s Ark – Petrified timber brought down from Mount Ararat by Saint Jacob of Nisibis in the 4th century.
• The Right Hand of Saint Gregory – The sacred reliquary used to bless the Holy Muron oil every seven years.
• Medieval Architecture & Frescoes – Masterpieces of volcanic tuff masonry and Hovnatanian wall paintings that survived centuries of empires and invasions.
Discover how this fortress of faith survived Persian attacks, Soviet repression, and the 1915 genocide to remain the living heart of global Armenian heritage.
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