Zvartnots temple – the brightest monument of Armenian architecture of the middle ages, located 5 km from Etchmiadzin and about 10 km West of Yerevan. This magnificent temple was built in the VII century and the most ancient churches of Armenia, Zvartnots came till now only in ruins. But still it gives a good idea of its majestic beauty.

The construction of the temple lasted for 20 years. The initiator of its construction was the Catholicos Nerses III the Builder. The construction of the Church doing masters from the ancient city of Dvin, who were invited by Nerses III.

The temple stood for about 300 years and about 930, he was destroyed by a powerful earthquake. Over time at the site of Zvartnots temple formed a large hill where you could see the remains of the four pylons. In the twentieth century on this place began to be carried out archaeological excavations. In 1901-1907, under the direction of architect T. portal of the main, from under centuries-old layers of earth were excavated ruins of an ancient temple, after which he presented the project.

Zvartnots temple was a round in the bottom three-tiered temple. The height of the building of the temple was 49 m. the Church stood on a platform surrounded by a partially preserved stepped pedestal. The Church stood on four powerful 20-metre columns. The second tier of the temple on three sides was through, and its wall is supported by six large columns. The whole composition completed multi-faceted dome high. In the Church there were five inputs.

The Church walls were decorated with rich mosaics and stone carvings depicting the vine, the branches of the pomegranate and subtle geometric patterns. Among the works of stone-carvers deserves special attention portrait gallery of sculptural half-length images of people.

Today on the territory of Zvartnots temple opened archaeological Museum and reserve where you can see the model-variants of reconstruction of the Church, fragments of ancient buildings, and a well-preserved massive stone slabs, on which are carved various figures, sundial, grapes and pomegranates.