Saint Mesrop Mashtots Church
[8][9] According to Movses Khorenatsi, when Mesrop Mashtots died (c. 440), three locations were considered for his burial place: his native Taron region; Goghtn, where he had begun his missionary work; and Vagharshapat, Armenia's political and religious capital, next to the graves of other saints.Hrachia Acharian interpreted it literally; he believed Amatuni simply added an altar in a pre-existing chapel.[17] The 17th century historian Arakel of Tabriz wrote that the roof of the "temple-mausoleum" had entirely collapsed and that only the main altar was still extant.[17] It was replaced with an Italian marble[25] gravestone in 1962 that reads: Saint Mesrop Mashtots 361–440 (ՍՈՒՐԲ ՄԵՍՐՈՊ ՄԱՇՏՈՑ 361 ✝ 440).For its location on the eastern (as opposed to the usual western end) and cylindrical design, it is a rare example in Armenian architecture.[8][1] On October 13, 1912, Catholicos Gevorg V, other religious figures and common people traveled from Vagharshapat to Oshakan in a ceremonial procession as part of the celebrations of the 1,500 anniversary of the Armenian alphabet.[27] The church underwent extensive renovation in the 1960s, during the reign of Catholicos Vazgen I, through the financial support of Hayk and Torgom Ghazarosian brothers of Milan, Italy,[28][8][29] originally from Yerznka (Erzincan).[38] The 20th century Armenian writer Sero Khanzadyan called the church and Kanaker, the birthplace of Khachatur Abovian (1809–48), as Armenia's two holy sites.
AffiliationArmenian Apostolic ChurchYear consecratedOshakanAragatsotnArmenianArmenian ApostolicMesrop MashtotsArmenian alphabetpilgrimageHoly TranslatorsmartyriumDiocese of AragatsotnMovses KhorenatsiGoghtnVagharshapatMamikonianVardan MamikonianAmatuniKoriunGhazar ParpetsiHrachia AcharianElizabeth RedgateArakel of TabrizNerses AshtaraketsiMikayel NalbandianencyclicalAlexandropol (Gyumri)marbleArtsakh DioceserotundaArmenian architectureGevorg VVazgen IYerznka (Erzincan)Baghdasar Arzoumaniandrinking fountainRafael IsraelyanSahak PartevVramshapuhaltarpieceVirgin and ChildArmen SarkissianHovhannes TumanyanSero KhanzadyanKanakerKhachatur AbovianEmin, GevorgEmbassy of the USSR in the USEtchmiadzinHasratyan, MuradYerevan State UniversityMother See of Holy EtchmiadzinRedgate, A. E.Blackwell PublishingAraratNational Gallery of ArmeniaAcharian, HrachiaKhanjyan, GrigorArmeniaArshakid MausoleumAruchavankAstvatsankalByurakanGarnahovitHovhannavankKarmravorKasaghKristapori VankMastaraTukh ManukSaghmosavankMughniTegherVahramashenVoskevazYeghipatrushZarinjaAghjots VankArtavazikKhor VirapArmavirTargmanchats VankSt. GayaneSt. HripsimeSt. MaryShoghakatZvartnotsGegharkunikDdmashenHayravankKotavankMakenyats VankCemeterySevanavankTsovinarVanevanYot VerkKotaykGeghardGharghavankHavuts TarKecharisMakravankMashtots HayrapetMayravankNeghutsi VankPtghavankTejharuykMonasteryBardzrakashHaghpatHnevankHoromayriKhuchapKobayrSanahinSverdlovShirakHoly SaviourHarichavankLmbatavankMarmashenPemzashenYereroukSyunik