The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is the preeminent center of authority in the worldwide Armenian Apostolic Church. Located near the capital of Yerevan in the Republic of Armenia, it is the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the worldwide Armenian Church and the residence of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos and Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians.

The Mother See Is Composed Of

• The Mother Cathedral of the entire Armenian Church
• The monastery and monastic brotherhood

• The residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians
• Various religious and cultural institutions, such as the Kevorkian Theological Seminary and a museum

The Mother Cathedral

The Mother Cathedral, founded by the Descent of Christ and built by St. Gregory the Illuminator and King Trdat III in 303 AD, has stood as a timeless symbol of the Armenian faith, nation, and people. No other silhouette is so instantly recognized by Armenians the world over.

The Cathedral dates back to the fourth century and is reckoned to be the oldest Christian cathedral in the world. Although the current sanctuary was erected in the 1600s, remnants of the fourth-century altar have been unearthed beneath the present structure.

Holy Etchmiadzin became the seat of the Catholicate of the entire Armenian nation in the fourth century, following the conversion of King Tiridates III to Christianity by St. Gregory the Illuminator in AD 301. The current Catholicos of All Armenians is His Holiness Karekin II.

Soon after Armenia’s conversion to Christianity, St. Gregory had a vision of the Son of God appearing as a heroic figure of light, surrounded by a mighty angelic host. In his vision, he saw “Miatsin,” the Only-Begotten Son of God, with glittering light upon His face, descending from Heaven and striking the ground with a golden hammer. In this way, Christ indicated the place where the Mother Cathedral of the new Christian nation was to be established.

St. Gregory chose the location of the Cathedral in accordance with this sacred vision. The name Etchmiadzin translates literally as “the place where the Only-Begotten descended” and refers to this miraculous episode.

Etchmiadzin — the place where the Only-Begotten descended.

Preserving the Past, Serving the Present

Preserving the past are the numerous museums, libraries, and the Mother Cathedral itself, all holding a vast richness of history and treasures. The Mother See is responsible for the preservation of artifacts, both those created by the Church and those given to the Church as gifts over time.

Carrying on the work of our present and future are the departments and programs of the Armenian Church. Under the grace-filled leadership and guidance of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the Mother See administers social, cultural, and educational programs for Armenia and the Diaspora.

Through its museums, libraries, theological education, departments, and programs, the Mother See preserves the sacred inheritance of the Armenian Church while continuing its spiritual, cultural, educational, and charitable mission among Armenians in the homeland and throughout the world.

The Spiritual Centre of All Armenians

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin remains the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the worldwide Armenian Church and the residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians. From this sacred center, the Armenian Church carries forward its mission of faith, worship, education, service, and unity for the Armenian people in Armenia and throughout the Diaspora.

For more information about the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, its history, institutions, ministries, and current activities, please visit the official website of the Armenian Church.