Saint Sarkis Cathedral is an active church of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the seat of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese. A hermitage-monastery stood on the site in the earliest Christian era. The 1679 earthquake destroyed the earlier church, which was rebuilt under Catholicos Edesatsi Nahabet between 1691 and 1705.
The current building was constructed from 1835 to 1842 and consecrated in 1842. Reconstruction began in 1972 to a plan by Rafayel Israyelian. After his death, Ardzroun Galikian continued the work. The old dome and drum were replaced with a much higher dome with a fan-shaped spire. The facade is described as clad in Ani orange tufa, a detail the article flags as needing a citation.
Benefactors Sarkis Kurkjian and his sons of London funded the rebuilding. The bell tower was completed in 2000.
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