Katoghike Church, Talin (Talin Cathedral)

The church Katoghike of Talin is one of the majestic cathedrals of early medieval Armenia. It is located in the city of Talin of Aragatsotn Marz (region). It is a domed church basilica with three altars, with the external dimensions 17.8 x 34.3 m. Talin Cathedral is a sample of peculiar combination of cruciform domed church and basilica church. The constructing of the church dated from the second half of the VII century. It is supposed that Katoghike was built by Armenian counts of the genus Kamsarakan. The traces of the structure of an earlier era during the excavations were found here. The fact that a pagan temple used to be here is not excluded. This is a three-nave building with three altars. There are two-storey vestries in the two sides of the main altar, the upper floors of which served as hiding places (cache). The church was decorated with frescoes. It testifies that once it was the Armenian Chalcedonian Church.