The Cathedral of Echmiadzin and the seat of the Holy See. This is the mother church in Armenia. According to legend, the site was selected by St. Gregory in a dream. Excavations under the alter show a 3rd century columned construction. Like many Armenian churches, this was destroyed numerous times by the Mongols, Seljuk Turks, Persians and Arabs. In the 17th century it was significantly rebuilt and most of the belfries and towers date from this time. However, an examination of the church shows that it is a collection of many eras of construction and some of the stones may date to the 6th century.