Day tour of Echmiadzin, Zvartnots, and Yerevan with lunch

Discover Echmiadzin which is considered to be the spiritual center of all Armenians all over the world. The word itself means a place where “the only begotten son of the God descended.”Explore the St. Hripsime church built on the tomb of a Christian nun Hripsime who fled from the Roman Empire and was killed in Armenia. This fabulous building has stood upright from the day of its construction since 618 A.D. making it one of the oldest standing churches in the world. Then visit the eponymous church of St. Gayane, built on the burial site of another early Christian nun Gayane. After this stop, you'll take part in the local food-making master class. Learn how to make dolma which is considered the second main dish in Armenian tables, which is made with cabbage leaves, grape leaves, rice, minced meat, and other species. You'll also taste it during lunch.After lunch, you'll be able to observe the world’s first Christian Cathedral – the Holy Ejmiatsin, built in 301-304. According to the legend, Jesus Christ descended on the exact spot where the Dissention Altar stands today, where Gregory the Illuminator ordered to build the church. Inside the Cathedral, there is a small museum home to many Christian relics, including pieces from the Holy Cross and Noah’s Ark and the spear with which Jesus was wounded.After that, you will visit the 7th-century Zvartnots Temple, which is included in the UNESCO heritage list along with all other historical places included in this tour.