Armavir region

Territory - 1242 sq. km.
Population - 316,5 thousands
Structure - 97 communes, 98 rural settlements
Major towns - Vakharshapat, Armavir and Metsamor. The center of the region is Armavir.

The region is located in the western part of Armenia, the territory includes the north-western part of Ararat hollow and south-western hills of Aragats hills. The region is rich in volcano slogs, tuff and brick earth. 
The climate is dry, continental with hot, dry summers and temperately cold winters.
It is a region of industry and agriculture. Here the Armenian nuclear power station, “Zvartnots” airport and Sardarapat Memorial are situated.

Echmiadzin, 20 kilometers from Yerevan, is the religious capital of Armenia (Armenian Vatican) .The Cathedral, the oldest Christian temple, was founded in 301 and is one of the first churches in the Christian World. Holy Mass takes place on Sundays in the Cathedral. It is an architectural monument of early Christianity. It houses a unique museum of religious artifacts. There is a small altar in the center of the Cathedral where, according to the legend, Christ descended from Heaven and with a golden hammer pointed to the site upon which the Cathedral was to built. The remnants of a pagan temple have been discovered during excavations made inside the Cathedral. For seventeen centuries the Cathedral has been the center of Armenian apostolic church where all church gatherings and religious holidays are held and celebrated.
Every seven years there is a solemn ceremony of Chrism preparation attended by thousands of Christians from all over the world. On Sundays and doting church festivals, Holy Mass takes place with the participation of the All-Armenian Catholicos (head of the Armenian church),whose residence stands near the Cathedral. Not far from the Cathedral, there is St.Gayane Church(built in 630)with its silhouette forming  a cupola basilica against the background of  the snowy top of Ararat. The wonderful churches of Shoghakat, Marine and Virgin Hripsime are in Echmiadzin, as well as the Theological Academy of St.Echmiadzin, Synod of the Armenian Church and Library. Halfway from Yerevan to Echmiadzin, near Musaler village, one can see a red-stone monument dedicated to the heroic self-defense of  Armenians on Musa-Ler in Cilicia. The descendants of Musa-Ler defenders live in the village of Musaler.