Zvartnots

a church in the Armenian SSR, near Echmiadzin. The church, built between 641 and 661, is an outstanding masterpiece of early medieval Armenian architecture. Excavations from 1901 to 1907 uncovered its ruins. Stones from the foundation, architectural fragments, and shafts, bases, and capitals of columns have been pre-served. The Zvartnots was a round, three-tiered structure (the diameter of the lower tier was 35.75 m). Inside, there were four apses with a gallery around them. The facades were decorated with arcature, carving, and reliefs, while the interior was ornamented with mosaics and murals. The Zvartnots served as the prototype for a series of architectural structures. The ruins of a patriarch’s palace are located southwest of the church.