Zvartnots Cathedral

Zvartnots Cathedral, a renowned circular medieval Armenian cathedral, is located near Vagharshapat, Armenia. Constructed in the 7th century under Catholicos Nerses III the Builder, the cathedral is significant for its unique architectural design, featuring a circular exterior and a multifloor structure supported by interior piers. It was built during the first Muslim Arab raids and was dedicated to St. Gregory. The cathedral stood for approximately 320 years before its collapse, likely due to an earthquake, by the 10th century. The ruins reveal influences from Syrian and Mesopotamian architecture and include remnants of the catholicosal palace and a winery. Excavations in the early 20th century uncovered its foundations, linking it to older Urartian structures.