A church building, constructed from 301 on the orders of the first Catholicos, Gregory the Illuminator, over the foundations of a pagan temple, is said to have been consecrated in August 303. A new building with a wooden roof was added in the 480s, and a precursor to the present central building was erected on its site at the beginning of the 7th century. The church, which was extensively restored in the 17th century, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000 (Wikipedia).