Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

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Museums

  • Museums of the Mother See
  • Alex and Marie Manoogian Treasury House
  • Old Residence Museum
  • Ruben Sevak Museum

Museums of the Mother See

Museums of the Mother See

Throughout the course of centuries, various religious relics have been brought from different monasteries and Dioceses to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, as it is the spiritual center of the Armenian nation and people. Three of the most important pieces are the Holy Lance (Geghard), the Right Hand of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, and the relic of Noah’sArk.

According to Armenian Church tradition, the lance, or spear, that pierced the side of Christ by the Roman soldier during His crucifixion, was brought to Armenia by the Apostle Thaddeus when he came to evangelize. For this reason, the Apostle is always depicted in Armenian art with the Holy Lance in his hand.

Following the Holy Lance, the greatest reliquary of the Armenian Church is the Right Hand of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, on which, through a masterful example of gold artwork, are depicted the twelve sufferings of the Illuminator.   

The Right Hand of the Illuminator has always been kept in the Catholicosate, and wherever the Pontificate of All Armenians has been relocated, the Right Hand has moved with it. It is significant to note, that in the 17th century, when Shah Abas forced mass emigrations of Armenians to Persia, in addition to taking stones from Holy Etchmiadzin, he also took the Right Hand, to entice the Armenians to remain in Persia. As the historian of those times, Archimandrite Arakel Davrizhetsi stated, "To the Right Hand (of the Illuminator) and to Holy Etchmiadzin, the entire Armenian Nation is bound".        

The relic of Noah’s Ark, was given to Patriarch St. Hakob (Jacob) of Mts’bna in the fourth century, as he desired to climb the peak of Mount Ararat to find Noah’s Ark. After ascending the mountain, he fell asleep through the influence of God, and the angel of the Lord placed the reliquary of the Ark under his head. In a dream, the angel instructs St. Hakob to awaken, take the relic, and descend from the mountain.

As Holy Etchmiadzin is the Seat of the Catholicos of All Armenians, and the center of spiritual life of the Armenian people, this has benefited the beauty and variety of her liturgical articles and vestments.

A large portion of these have been donated by individuals and families from different dioceses and communities throughout the world, on occasions such as the enthronement of a Catholicos, the consecration of a bishop, the blessing of the Holy Chrism, or other similar events.

These traditional sacred relics of the Mother See, her works of art, items used for her liturgical rituals, and treasures of the Armenian Church are kept primarily in five museums on the grounds of the Mother See. They are the Cathedral Museum, located in the eastern chambers and vestibules behind the Main Altar; the Alex and Marie Manoogian Treasury Museum, the upper floor of the Pontifical Residence (Veharan); the Ruben Sevak

Museum ticket prices

200 AMD

For Schoolchildren

300 AMD

Students(with student tickets)

500 AMD

Adult RA Citizens

1500 AMD

Foreign Citizens

Entrance of preschool children, pensioners, military and ICOM members is free of charge.

Working hours

From Monday to Sunday; 10:30-17:30

Ruben Sevak Museum

From Monday to Sunday; 10:30 - 17:30

Alex and Marie Manoogian Treasury House

Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

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(374-10) 517-110 (374-10) 517-301 [email protected]