What is "vagharshapat"

Vagharshapat is the fourth-largest city in Armenia and the most populous town in Armavir Province, located about west of the capital Yerevan, and north of the Armenian-Turkish border. Between 1945 and 1995, the city was officially known as Ejmiatsin (also spelled Echmiadzin or Etchmiadzin, , ) which is still commonly used colloquially and in official bureaucracy.

Vagharshapat is one of the historic capitals of Armenia and the main religious center of the Armenian people with the Etchmiadzin Cathedral, the most important Armenian Apostolic church, located in the city. It is thus unofficially known as a " holy city" .

The 1989 census counted the population of the city as 61,000. The number has declined somewhat since, showing 58,388 in the 2001 census, and 46,540 in 2011.