The cathedral's external appearance has been described as austere, ascetic, unostentatious, and as a "massive cube surmounted by a faceted cone on a simple cylinder." Robert H. Hewsen writes that it is "neither the largest nor the most beautiful of Armenian churches", nevertheless, "the overall impression presented by the ensemble is inspiring, and Armenians hold the building in great reverence." James Bryce wrote that the cathedral is "small, that is to say, compared with its fame or importance". Paul Bloomfield, writing for "The Times", expressed a similar view: "cathedral, though diminutive by European standards, is immensely important." Herbert Lottman wrote in a 1976 "New York Times" article: "Like all ancient Armenian churches, the cathedral is characterized by a disarmingly naive, coneshaped steeple. With a minimum of ornament, the building [... is a solid stone construction, its arches sober romanesque curves."