Celebrating "Etchmiadzin Day" on October 8 only goes back two years. Despite its short life, all major roads into Etchmiadzin, seat of the Holy See of the Armenian Apostolic Church, were closed today. There are more people milling about the streets of the town than normal, even though getting to Etchmiadzin forces drivers to take inconvenient detours. Preparations for an evening convert are shaping up in Komitas Square and vendors have staked claim on the choicest of pedestrian street corners. The flags of Armenia and the town are to be seen everywhere. 2,000 marchers, starting from the St. Hrispsime Church, filed down the main boulevard this afternoon. They later broke off into groups and performed songs and dance in the park opposite the mayor’s office. Mayor Karen Grigoryan says that on October 8, Mesrob Mashtots brought the newly created alphabet to Etchmiadzin along the same route ass the parade. This is why the holiday is celebrated today. Early this morning, a memorandum was signed making Etchmiadzin and Hadrut/Martakert sister cities.