Cathedral of Avan

Holy Mother of God Cathedral of Avan (Armenian: Ավանի Սուրբ Աստվածածին Կաթողիկե Եկեղեցի, romanized: Avani Surb Astvatsatsin Kat’oghike Yekeghets’i; also known as the church of Katoghike Tsiranavor, later renamed Surp Hovhannes) is a ruined 6th-century church located in the Avan District of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.

The construction began soon after the conclusion of the long Byzantine–Sasanian War of 572–591, that resulted in expansion of direct Byzantine rule over all western regions of Armenia, as far as Avan.

In order to strengthen political control over newly conquered regions, emperor Maurice (r. 582–602) decided to support the pro-Chalcedonian fraction of the Armenian Church.

The remains of the structure sit on a two-stepped platform, while the church's vaults, domes, and roof are missing as well as portions of the upper walls.

A low arched doorway leads into the church from the western wall and is surrounded by an ornamented casing, three-quartered pillars, topped with capitals and lunettes.