The article says Catholicos Ezra I built the church in 630, on the site associated with the martyrdom of Saint Gayane in 301. The infobox gives 630 as groundbreaking, so it is unclear whether that date marks the start or the completion. The article names no architect, materials or dimensions.
It is a three-nave domed basilica of Armenian type, combining the longitudinal basilica with the centrally domed church. An octagonal drum and dome rest on four free-standing piers, with squinches under the drum, and a semicircular apse sits at the east end. The exterior has a cruciform gable roof.
The dome and some ceilings were partly renovated in 1652, and a triple-arched western portico was added in 1683. The portico is a burial place for prominent clergymen. UNESCO listed the church in 2000 with the Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin. The article gives no visiting details.
Comments