The Cathedral of Saint Gregory

The Cathedral of Saint Gregory the Illuminator stands as the largest church in Yerevan and the second-largest in the South Caucasus—surpassed only by the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba) in Tbilisi. It was constructed to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of Armenia’s adoption of Christianity, and thus, fittingly, was designed to accommodate 1,700 worshippers. Armenia holds the distinction of being the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion—an achievement largely credited to Gregory the Illuminator. This historic milestone occurred in 301 AD, and in honor of the first Catholicos of the Armenian Church, countless sanctuaries have been erected across the nation.

The cathedral complex is a harmonious blend of reverence and grandeur. It comprises several structures dedicated to Saint Gregory and his companions, housing sacred relics that hold immense spiritual and historical value. While travelers are often drawn to Armenia’s ancient stone sanctuaries, eager to soak in the energy of places sanctified by centuries of prayer, the Cathedral of Saint Gregory the Illuminator is an exception among newer religious buildings—it simply cannot be overlooked.

Towering over the cityscape from a prominent hill not far from the beloved Vernissage market (a popular spot we’ve mentioned before), the cathedral commands attention with its striking architecture and symbolic presence. The idea for its construction was initiated by Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin I. Building began in 1997 and was completed in 2001.

Interestingly, there once stood an earlier Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator in central Yerevan—now lost to history, reduced to its foundations. The main church of the current cathedral complex was funded through the generosity of benefactor Alex Manoogian and his family. The construction of the two smaller chapels was made possible by the philanthropic contributions of Nazar and Artemis Nazarian, along with Gevorg and Linda Gevorgyan. The bell tower was sponsored by Eduardo Eurnekian, an Argentinian-Armenian entrepreneur.

The cathedral comprises three churches: the Church of Saint Tiridates III, with seating for 150; the Church of Saint Queen Ashkhen, also seating 150; and the grand cathedral itself, with a capacity of 1,700. These names were chosen with deep symbolic resonance. King Tiridates III and Queen Ashkhen were instrumental in helping Saint Gregory spread Christianity throughout Armenia. Their roles in shaping the country’s spiritual identity are immortalized through the sacred architecture.

The total area of the cathedral complex spans approximately 3,822 square meters. Its central structure soars to a height of 54 meters from the ground to the top of the cross. Designed by architect Stepan Kurkchyan, the cathedral seamlessly merges traditional Armenian ecclesiastical architecture with contemporary grandeur.

What also makes this site extraordinary is its role as a repository of relics associated with Saint Gregory the Illuminator. These sacred items were transported from Naples to Yerevan. Following the consecration of the cathedral, it was visited by Pope John Paul II.