Etchmiadzin Cathedral
Foundation and etymology[edit]
According to tradition, the cathedral was built between 301 and 303[H] near the royal palace in then Armenian capital city of Vagharshapat,[1] on the location of a pagan temple.[I] The Kingdom of Armenia under Tiridates III became the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion in 301.[J] According to History of the Armenians (c. 460) by Agathangelos, Armenia's patron saint Gregory the Illuminator had a vision of Jesus Christdescending from heaven and striking the earth with a golden hammer to show where the cathedral should be built. Hence, the patriarch gave the church the name of Etchmiadzin (էջ ej "descent" + մի mi "only" + -ա- -a- (linking element) + ծին tsin "begotten"),[45] which translates to "the Descent of the Only-Begotten [Son of God]."[2][19] However, the name Etchmiadzin did not come into use until the 15th century, while earlier sources call it "Cathedral of Vagharshapat" (Վաղարշապատի Կաթողիկե եկեղեցի Vağaršapati Kat'oğike ekeghetsi)[46][47] or simply Kat'oghike (Կաթողիկե, literally "Cathedral").[36][K] The Feast of the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin (Տոն Կաթողիկե Սբ. Էջմիածնի) is celebrated by the Armenian Church 64 days after Easter, during which "a special hymn is sung, written by the 8th century Catholicos Sahak III of Dzorapor, telling of St. Gregory's vision and the Cathedral's construction."[48]
