Saint Gayane Church

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Church of Saint Gayane
Saint Gayane Church
Religion
Affiliation	Armenian Apostolic Church
Location
Location	Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin), Armavir Province, Armenia
Shown within Armenia
Geographic coordinates	40°09′27″N 44°17′31″E / 40.157419°N 44.291986°E / 40.157419; 44.291986
Architecture
Style	Armenian
Groundbreaking	630
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name: Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots
Type	Cultural
Criteria	(ii) (iii)
Designated	2000 (24th session)
Reference no.	1011-002
Region	Western Asia

The Saint Gayane Church (Armenian: Սուրբ Գայանե եկեղեցի; pronounced Surb Gayane yekeghetsi) is a 7th-century Armenian church in Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin), the religious center of Armenia. It is located within walking distance from the Etchmiadzin Cathedral of 301. St. Gayane was built by Catholicos Ezra I in the year 630. Its design has remained unchanged despite partial renovations of the dome and some ceilings in 1652.

Gayane was the name of an abbess who was martyred with other nuns by Tiridates III of Armenia in the year 301, and subsequently made a saint of the Armenian Apostolic Church.^[1][2]

In 2000, Saint Gayane Church was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites along with historical churches of Vagharshapat.^[3]