I went to Echmiatsin and Zvartnots on a half day tour. Zvartnots was a beautifully sited circular cathedral dating back to the 7th century, now reduced to picturesque ruins. I found it to be very atmospheric Then we went on the Etchmiatsin, where we looked around the religious compound surrounding the cathedral of Etchmiadsin. I was not as impressed with the architectural merit as I had been by the remains of Zvartnots. The Treasury House Museum in the cathedral compound was more interesting than I had expected. It holds what it claims is the real lance that pierced Christ's side (a very large one -it must have been a very muscular centurion that wielded that lance) and some religious pictures. One in particular was quite unique, showing the Virgin and Child Jesus, in which the infant Jesus was shown with some rather over developed abdominal muscles for an infant!

Hard to rate the significance of the sites as I am not part of the Armenian culture, it was obvious the Etchmiadsin and the surrounding area has been very important for the Armenain church through history.