On May 18, 1869 the first foundation stone of the building of the Gevorkian Seminary was laid, approximately 600 paces to the northeast of the Mother Cathedral. His Holiness laid the first stone with his own hands.
The successful educator and writer Ghazaros Aghayan was present at the foundation blessing ceremony of the future building of the seminary. "Previously, on May 25, we were among the great ceremony, one of which was the second anniversary of the consecration of His Holiness and the foundation blessing of the seminary to be built" ("Ararat", Vagharshapat, 1869).
From 1869 to 1874 on the one hand, the building was being constructed, on the other hand, negotiations were being conducted with the tsarist government to open the educational institution. On September 28, 1874, the seminary was opened with a magnificent performance. A few days later, on October 5, Gulkovich, an official of the State Committee of the Caucasus, invites Rev. Fr. Archimandrite Vahan Bastamyants and informs that the charter of the seminary approved by the emperor has been received and it can be opened. The spiritual seminary began its mission by overcoming considerable difficulties.
During the bitter and tragic period of the Armenian Genocide, the surroundings of Etchmiadzin were filled with a large number of emigrants. The Catholicos of All Armenians Gevorg V and the Dean of the Gevorkian Seminary, His Grace Bishop Garegin Hovsepyan, taking into account the tragic situation of the Armenian people in those days, forced to temporarily close the doors of the seminary from December 1917, hoping to reopen it next year.
Already in 1921 attempts to reopen the seminary begin. Steps in that direction were made by Catholicos Gevorg V Surenyants (1911-1930); Catholicos Khoren I Muradbekyan (1932-1938) and Archbishop Garegin Hovsepyan. In the end, that dream became a reality, thanks to the persistent and consistent activity of Catholicos Gevorg VI Chorekchyan (1941-1954).
On June 29, 1928 Catholicos Gevorg V Surenyants appeals to the Chairman of the People's Commissariat Council Sahak Ter-Gabrielyan to reopen the seminary. A building is provided for the seminary, but the government takes it back temporarily, citing that the building needs to be used for other purposes and does not return it anymore (Central State Archive of the History of the Republic of Armenia).
Later, when His Eminence Archbishop Khoren Muradbekyan was ordained a Catholicos (1932-1938), one of his first steps was the reopening of the seminary. In 1933, in his first Encyclical on February 20, he reflected on the issue of reopening the seminary: "...within the limits of his time, with wise prudence and caution, to improve the difficult financial situation of the See, in order to preserve and perpetuate the congregational covenant and in order to educate children in the service of the church and live preaching in the higher spiritual school, which is now closed due to the great war and due to material scarcity”.
Even before the election of the Catholicos (in 1945), Catholicos Gevorg VI Chorekchyan had repeatedly emphasized the necessity of opening a seminary in his official writings and presented his plans to the National Church Assembly. "Holy Etchmiadzin, as the spiritual center of all Armenians, should have a sufficient number of celibate clergy and priesthood. The institution that prepares the spiritual class is the Mother See Theological Seminary, which has ceased to exist since 1917, resulting in a great need for both celibate clergy and priesthood. Today, to the comfort of all of us, I can announce that one of the most difficult problems has been solved and solved in a major and legal way. Holy Etchmiadzin is given the right to have a Theological Seminary. Thanks to the caring and kind attitude of the Soviet government, the former library is provided to us as a seminary building."
The building of Matenadaran was built in 1911 and is intended for storing ancient church manuscripts. The building was to serve as a repository and research center. During the Soviet years, according to the government's decision, the manuscripts of the Church were handed over to the Yerevan State Library (Matenadaran). The Matenadaran now known as the old seminary building, served as Gevorkian Seminary from 1945 to 1997.
In 1991, following the declaration of independence of Armenia and the acquisition of independent statehood, the building of the former Gevorkian Seminary confiscated by the Soviet state was returned to the Church.
In 1996, on the initiative of Patriarch Karekin I, accelerated works are being carried out to repair the building of the Gevorkian Seminary. On September 18, 1997 there was joy at the Mother See. After the main renovation, the historical building of the Gevorkian seminary was put into operation.
Since 2002, under the patronage of Mr. and Mrs. Gevorg and Sirvard Hovnanyan, the main renovation works began.
In 2001, the dormitory building of the seminary was put into operation.
Since the 2003-2004 academic year, the Auditoriums were put into operation.
From 2006 to 2007 the dormitory building of the seminary was partially renovated.
In 2011, under the patronage of Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, the Holy Archangels Church, in the vicinity of the seminary was consecrated. In the same year, the Auditorium and the sports hall of the seminary were opened next to the educational department.