Friday 27 July 2018

Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots

This cathedral is part of a group of monuments that form this site.

Etchmiadzin Cathedral
This postcard was sent from Germany by Daniela

Etchmiadzin Cathedral is the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, located in the city of Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin), Armenia. According to most scholars, it was the first cathedral (but not the first church) built in ancient Armenia, and is considered the oldest cathedral in the world.

Etchmiadzin Cathedral
This postcard was sent from Turkey by Mea

The original church was built in the early fourth century —between 301 and 303 according to tradition—by Armenia's patron saint Gregory the Illuminator, following the adoption of Christianity as a state religion by King Tiridates III. It replaced a preexisting temple, symbolizing the conversion from paganism to Christianity. The core of the current building was built in 483/4 by Vahan Mamikonian after the cathedral was severely damaged in a Persian invasion. From its foundation until the second half of the fifth century, Etchmiadzin was the seat of the Catholicos, the supreme head of the Armenian Church. - in: wikipedia

Monuments that are part of this site (in red what I already have):
  • Etchmiadzin Cathedral
  • Church of Saint Gayane
  • Church of Saint Hripsime
  • Church of Shoghakat
  • Cemetery of Congregation
  • Archaeological site of  Zvartnots

Wednesday 4 July 2018

Fanjingshan

This week 19 new sites were added to the World Heritage list. I had 3, including this one.

Mount Fanjingshan
This postcard was sent by Wei Tianyi

The Fanjingshan or Mount Fanjing, located in TongrenGuizhou province, is the highest peak of the Wuling Mountains in southwestern China, at an altitude of 2,572 m (8,438 ft). The Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve was established in 1978 and designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1986. The reserve covers a total area of 567 km2 (219 sq mi) and is a conservation area for primitive vegetation of the mid sub-tropic alpine region of western China. The rare gray snub-nosed monkey occurs only in a small region centering on Fanjingshan. It is also a sacred Buddhist mountain, a status it has held since the Ming dynasty. Fanjingshan was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2018. - in: wikipedia