St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, consecrated on April 28, 1968 after groundbreaking in 1965, was the first cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church built in North America. Designed by architect Walker O. Cain with sketch designs by Rafayel Israyelian, its form recalls the Saint Hripsime Church in Armenia. It serves as the headquarters and mother cathedral of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, under the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.