St. Sargis church

St. Sargis Church is one of the notable historical churches of Yerevan. The original church was built in 1450 on the upper part of Dzoragyugh, overlooking the Hrazdan River and facing the old Yerevan Fortress on the opposite bank. Historical sources indicate that a hermitage and monastic community had existed at this site since the early Christian period. In 1679, a powerful earthquake devastated Yerevan and destroyed both St. Sargis Church and the nearby monastic complex. The church was later rebuilt on the same site during the reign of Catholicos Nahabed I of Edessa (1691–1705). The present structure of St. Sargis Church was reconstructed once again between 1835 and 1842, giving the building much of the appearance it has today. In 2000, a new gavit (narthex or entrance hall typical of Armenian church architecture) was added to the complex. Today, St. Sargis Church stands as an important spiritual landmark in Yerevan and is especially revered as the church dedicated to St. Sargis, one of the most beloved saints in Armenian tradition.