The first printing house bearing the name of St. Gregory the Illuminator was built in Holy Etchmiadzin in 1771, on the initiative of Catholicos Simeon from Yerevan and with the funds of Indo-Armenian merchant Grigor Khojajanyan. However, at the end of the 19th century, during the reign of Catholicos Makar I of Teghut, there was a need to build a new building for the printing house.
The foundation blessing service of the present printing house was held on April 6, 1888, and the structure was completed a year later, in 1889.
The building is located on the east side of the garden of the Mother Cathedral. It was built according to the design of Mikael Salabekyants. In 1901, with his funds Archbishop Sukias Parzyants ordered the construction of two spacious arched halls and a corridor next to the building of the printing house, on the south side, under which a dry and cement-covered dormitory was built.
From 1933 to 1934, the building was given to the tractor station. The structure was originally single-story. The second floor was built later and served as accommodation.
In 1957 the building was returned to the Mother See.
In 1959-1962, during the reign of Catholicos Vazgen I, the building was completely renovated by architect A. Gulikyan and with the project of engineer A. Matinyan, with the donation of the American Armenian community.
In November 1962, the printing house was handed over to the Academy of Sciences of the ASSR.
In June 1991, the printing house was finally handed over to the Mother See and thoroughly renovated. In the same period, the printing house was equipped with new modern printing devices.
In 2015, with the benevolence of Mr. Vatche Manoogian, the works of repairing the roof of the printing house and installing the ventilation system were carried out.