Autumn Years Summer 2024

Etchmiadzin Cathedral is home to the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Spear of Destiny.

written treatises and objects made of gold and silver are kept in glass cases, which adorn the walls of a large central room. In one glass case, set in a gold frame, sits the spear head alleged to be the one that had been used to determine if Christ was dead on the cross. Whether this is the true object or not is subject to debate. The Armenians are fervent in their belief and defense of this spearhead as the genuine article. I heard several compelling explana tions, and their defenses are quite logi cal. They claim that Jude Thaddeus, as Jesus’s cousin, obtained the spearhead and carried it with him to Armenia. It is

After spending hundreds of years at the Geghard Monastery, the ar tifact was moved to a religious com plex at Etchmi adzin in the mid 18th century. The church at Etchmi

Mother Armenia statue, Victory Park, Yerevan.

Armenia carry images of these two fruits. Once in Yerevan, we saw the famous Republic Square, which is surrounded by huge government and commercial buildings made of tof stone in various colors, the beautiful outdoor center of the arts, various monuments including Mother Armenia in Victory Park, as well as so many other statues and his torical items. The next morning, we continued our visits to historical sites. Our first desti nation was one of the major reasons we wanted to come to Armenia. We wished to actually see the Spear of Destiny or the spear that was used by a Roman soldier to pierce the side of Christ to verify that he was dead on the cross.

adzin was first built in 301 A.D. and is the earliest domed church in Armenia. It is only one of several religious struc tures at this site. The cathedral, church, seminary, religious library and treasury all share the area. It is a mixture of an cient, middle ages and modern buildings similar to the Vatican in Rome. Our destination here is obviously the treasury where the Armenians have placed the Spear of Destiny. After a drive of well over an hour, we crossed the ex tensive grounds to the treasury. Reserva tions were needed, and we could not be late for our visit. Joining some other six individuals who had been awarded a vis it and tour of the treasury, we entered the building where the religious treasures of the Armenian Apostolic Church are maintained. Ancient tapestries, hand

Spear of Destiny.

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SUMMER 2024 I AUTUMN YEARS