When you think of Armenian churches, your mind probably jumps to ancient, dark-stone monasteries hidden away in rugged mountain canyons. However, just 10 kilometers southwest of Yerevan, in the flat, sun-drenched lowlands of the Ararat Province, sits a completely different kind of spiritual sanctuary. Located right in the central square of Masis, the Saint Thaddeus Church offers travelers a striking, contemporary contrast to the country’s ancient landmarks and serves as a perfect short stopover on the way to the famous Khor Virap Monastery.
While the ground for the church was originally blessed back in 1991 by Catholicos Vazgen I, construction did not officially begin until 2003. The project was spearheaded and funded by the prominent Armenian philanthropist Hrant Vardanyan, and following his passing, his sons, Mikayel and Karen Vardanyan, took up the mantle to complete their father’s vision.
The church officially opened in the fall of 2015. It was designed by a famous mother-and-son architect team, Anahit and Artur Tarkhanyan, who did an amazing job mixing ancient Armenian traditions with a clean, modern style.
What makes Saint Thaddeus cool to visit are the hidden details built right into it. The architects used local volcanic tuff stone in a really unique way: the colors of the stone actually shift across the building, getting lighter from the center out to the edges, and darker as you look up toward the dome. The whole structure is also designed around the life of Jesus. It stands exactly 33 meters tall to represent the 33 years Jesus lived on Earth, and if you walk along the stone walls outside, you can spot exactly 33 biblical commandments carved into the stone.
Because the town of Masis is located on a flat plain, the quiet courtyard offers a totally open, epic view of the snow-capped Mount Ararat in the distance. It is a perfect example of how Armenia keeps its deep history alive while building for the future, making it an easy, uncrowded detour for anyone who wants to see modern Armenian design at its best.
