Trdat the Architect (circa 940s – 1020; Latin: Tiridates) is the chief architect of the Bagratuni kings of Armenia, whose 10th century monuments have been argued to be the forerunners of Gothic architecture which comes to Europe several centuries later.

In 961, Ashot III moves his capital from Kars to the great city of Ani where he assembles new palaces and rebuilds the walls.

The Catholicosate is moved to the Argina district in the suburbs of Ani where Trdat completes the building of the Catholicosal palace and the Mother Cathedral of Ani.

This cathedral offers an example of a cruciform domed church within a rectangular plan.