TravelswithCharie

Ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral (Cathedral of the Angels) Zvartnots Cathedral was a three-storey circular structure built in the 7th century by Nerses III on the very spot where St. Gregory the Illuminator converted King Tiridates III of Armenia to Christianity.  Its beauty captivated the Byzantine Emperor, Constantine III, so much so, that he brought the builder with him to Constantinople to create a similar structure there. Unfortunately, the builder died along the way.  Zvartnots stood for nearly 300 years. By the 10th century, it was in ruins. It is not certain how it was destroyed. A strong earthquake may have caused its collapse or it may also have been due to continued Arab raids. There’s a debate among scholars on the reason why a building constructed to last a millenia only lived a third of its “warranty”.   The Zvartnots archaeological site also includes the Catholicos Palace ruins. The complex together with Etchmiadzin Cathedral were inscribed as a UNESCO World He...