IV Century Churches and Monasteries

These buildings were single-nave and try-nave basilicas, often built upon the foundations of former pagan temples. In some instances, pagan temples were converted to churches, relocating the apse from the West to the East side of the building. Next Armenian catholicoi of the 4^th century continued this tradition and soon the land of Armenia became home for ‘thousand churches’. Many churches of that epoch still stand and serve the faithful people (e.g. Holy Nshan in Aparan), others were ruined in the course of time and some were renovated later with wonderful architectural solutions (e.g. Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, Monasteries of Geghard, Dadivank (founded in the 1^st century), Hovhanavank, churches of Odzun and others).

The most vivid example of such a wonderful renovation is the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. Being built according to the vision of St. Grigor Lusavorich in 303 on the basis of a pagan temple, it was then renovated in the 5^th and 7^th centuries obtaining the structure it has remained up to date.

Psalm Tours assigns a particular importance to these destinations. Hence in our tours we try to convey the seriousness and aspiring nature of this pilgrimage sites.