Vagharshapat is the fifth-largest city in Armenia and serves as the most populous municipal community within the Armavir Province. It is situated approximately 18 kilometers (11 miles) west of the national capital, Yerevan, and lies about 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of the closed Turkish-Armenian border.
The city is commonly known by its former official name, Ejmiatsin, which was used between 1945 and 1995. While Vagharshapat is the current official designation, Ejmiatsin remains in frequent use both colloquially and within official bureaucracy, resulting in a system of dual naming for the location.