St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral facts for kids
St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral is a special church building in New York City. It is the first main church, or cathedral, built by the Armenian Apostolic Church in North America. This beautiful building is located in New York City at the corner of Second Avenue and 34th Street.
The cathedral was designed to look like the Saint Hripsime Church in Etchmiadzin, Armenia. St. Vartan's was officially opened on April 28, 1968. Vazgen I, who was the leader of the Armenian Church, led the special ceremony.
Building Design and Features
The cathedral was designed by Walker O. Cain and his team, with help from Édouard Utudjian from Paris. They made sure the building included special features found in Armenian architecture.
One unique feature is the use of double-intersecting arches. Another is a pyramid-shaped dome that rises about 120 feet (37 meters) above the street.
Symbols and Art Inside
Around the dome, you can see many important symbols. These include a figure of Jesus Christ and a dove, which represents the Holy Spirit. You will also find the Greek letters alpha and omega on scriptures. Wheat and grapes are shown, symbolizing the Eucharist, a Christian ceremony. The Phoenix, a mythical bird, is also there, representing new life and resurrection.
The main walls of the cathedral have tall, narrow, stained-glass windows. These windows show different scenes from the life of Christ. They also tell stories about early Christianity in Armenia. The church's special protector, St. Vartan, is shown fighting the Sassanid Persians. This was a time in the fifth century when they threatened the Armenian Church.
Outdoor Sculptures
On the south side of the cathedral, there is a raised open area called a plaza. Here you can find two interesting sculptures.
One is a 10-foot (3-meter) tall bronze sculpture called "Descent from the Cross." It was created by Reuben Nakian and was put in place in 1977. This sculpture was inspired by a famous painting called The Raising of the Cross.
Another sculpture, added in 2015, is made of stainless steel and bronze. It is called "Migrations" and was created by Michael Aram. This sculpture was added to remember the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
