Talin- Katoghike Cathedral

History
The exact date for the founding church is not known, its masons left no inscription and its earliest mention, though dated 783, was for the creation of waterworks by a priest named Ukhtoitiur and his brother, presumably done after the church itself was built. The fact its architecture is more refined and advanced than early 7th c structures places it sometime between mid. 7th century and the date of the waterworks, mostly like during the reign of the Kamsarakan Prince Nerses (the builder), who commissioned the small S. Astvatsatsin nearby.

Architecture
The building is one of the most imposing churches in Armenia, built from multi-hued tufa. The red and gray blocks completely alter its appearance depending on the weather. In the sun it appears to glow with reddish tones, but in cloudy or wet weather the gray stones seep through.
The main (eastern) altar is flanked by two annexes on the north and south, the upper stories of which were used as caches. On the outside the church is highly decorated with carvings influenced by those of Zvartnots Cathedral. Frescoes covered the interior walls, of which a few fragments survived. 

Restoration
The church was severely damaged through the centuries, beginning with Seljuk and Mongol invasions. An earthquake destroyed the cupola and part of the drum in 1840, another damaged more of the church in 1931. Some restoration has been done, but the dome and some of the walls still need rebuilding.