Significance Etchmiadzin Cathedral

 —arakel of tabriz (17th century)

etchmiadzin depicted on 2009 armenian stamp

for many centuries, etchmiadzin national , political center of stateless armenian people. locus of etchmiadzin considered sanctified soil in way similar temple mount , golden temple, jews , sikhs, respectively. cathedral complex has been called armenian vatican or armenian mecca major pilgrimage site religious armenians worldwide. because cathedral has been important development of armenians sense of identity, pilgrimage etchmiadzin as ethnic religious experience. american journalist , historian francis whiting halsey described cathedral treasured possession of armenian nation , source of strength has held them through centuries of persecution, warfare , massacre. royal navy captain james creagh highlighted immense role armenian people in 1880 book, writing monastery , cathedral of echmiadzin may, without exaggeration, described heart of armenian nation.

before foundation of first republic of armenia , official designation of yerevan capital in 1918, western sources emphasized etchmiadzin s political significance. 1920 book prepared historical section of british foreign office acknowledged etchmiadzin regarded national capital of armenians. deprived of political head , political capital [armenian] people have, @ least 5 hundred years, looked etchmiadzin home of people, centre looked guidance, unfailing sympathy, , practical aid, wrote welsh journalist , politician w. llewelyn williams in 1916 book armenia.

italian historian , traveler luigi villari wrote cathedral in 1906:

during every critical phase of history, armenians have looked @ etchmiadzin guidance, church close on sixteen hundred years has been beacon , hope. visit etchmiadzin enables understand tenacity of people , devotion faith better whole library of books.

mabel evelyn elliott, medical director of near east relief, wrote cathedral s longevity in 1924:

changes in temporal affairs have beaten against walls of etchmiadzin sixteen centuries little waves against granite cliff. tsar has fallen, soviets have come. soviets may endure few years or few centuries; 1 etchmiadzin. day soviets go, temporal governments do, etchmiadzin stand.