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NEW PLANS FOR IRRIGATIOiN 211
the church is surrounded by rich ornamentation in stone
relief ; but this decoration is probably of the same late date as
the porch (seventeenth century). Otherwise the walls are
altogether plain, without any ornamentation in relief. On
the outside the old walls are quite plain and smooth also,
with bare squared stones ; and the doors and windows are
surrounded by mouldings of the simplest description. In
the old part of the church only the central dome is more richly
decorated. The narrow rounded windows are surrounded
by slender false columns and ornamented false arches. Above
each window is a round medallion containing the head of a
samt. Between the windows there are taller false columns
and a false arcade with pointed arches round the tower,
ornamented with plaited work. Under the cornice of the
roof above there is in addition a broad carved frieze. The
outside decoration of this tower must be comparatively late.
The belfry over the main porch is said to contain a famous
Tibetan bell with the mystic Buddhist inscription Om a hum.
The treasures and relics belonging to the cathedral are
preserved in the annexe on its east side. The most important
are St. Gregory’s right arm and hand, which possess a deep
signiflcance, inasmuch as this arm has become the defence
and safeguard of the Katholikos. There is also a piece of
wood from the ark, which, as everyone knows, stranded on
Mount Ararat not far from here ; " where it was still to
be seen up to very late times, though all traces of it have now
disappeared." Further, there is the head of the sacred spear
which was thrust into the side of the Saviour, and which is
specially potent in putting a stop to epidemics. There are the
arms and hands of several saints, and the head of the apostle
St. Thaddeus. A panel, upon which is carved a representa
tion of Christ crucified, is supposed to be the work of the
apostle John, a treasure which Ashot Patricius was fortunate
enough to secure.
After seeing the interior of this famous cathedral wc were
invited to a reception at the house of His Holiness the
Katholikos, and the bishops conducted us to his residence, a
plain building in the south-west corner of the quadrangle
in which the cathedral stands.
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