Church of the Holy Mother of God, Vanadzor

Church of the Holy Mother of God
Սուրբ Աստվածածին եկեղեցի
Church of the Holy Mother of God
Religion
Affiliation	Armenian Apostolic Church
Leadership	Diocese of Gougark
Year consecrated	1831
Location
Location	Vanadzor, Lori Province, Armenia
Architecture
Type	Armenian
Style	Single-nave domed basilica
Groundbreaking	1828
Completed	1830
Dome(s)	1

Church of the Holy Mother of God (Armenian: Սուրբ Աստվածածին եկեղեցի), is a 19th-century church in Vanadzor, Armenia. It was constructed between 1828 and 1830 and consecrated in 1831. The construction was completed through the donation of Yuzbashi (captain) Piluman Tayiryants, during the reign of tsar Nicholas I of Russia and Catholicos John VIII of Armenia.

History

As early as the 13th century, the area of modern-day Vanadzor was called Gharakilisa -meaning the black church in Turkic- by the Seljuks possibly. This name was derived from the black-stoned ancient Armenian church of the Holy Mother of God, probably built in the 13th century during the rule of the Zakarid princes of Armenia.

However, the current building of the church was built between 1828 and 1830 to replace the ancient church ruined during the 1826 Gharakilisa earthquake.

The new church was built with orange and black colored tufa stones brought from Gyumri. It represents a single-nave domed basilica. In 1853, a school was opened in the churchyard.

The church was completely renovated in 1900 by the Tayiryants family.

Holy Mother of God of Vanadzor was among the few churches in Armenia that continued to operate as a place of worship during the Soviet rule. In 1966, the belfry of the church was added at its entrance.

Khachkars (cross-stones) dating back to the 13th century are found in the churchyard.

The latest renovation at the church took place in 1999.

References

40°48′53.5″N 44°29′44.5″E / 40.814861°N 44.495694°E / 40.814861; 44.495694

v t e Modern Armenian churches and seminaries
Armenia	Yerevan Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral Holy Trinity Saint John the Baptist Saint Sarkis (Kentron) Saint Sarkis (Nor Nork) Saint Anna Church Holy Vartanants Martyrs Church Elsewhere Gyumri Holy Saviour's Church Holy Mother of God Church of the Holy Saviour Vagharshapat Church of the Holy Archangels Oshakan Saint Mesrop Mashtots Church Abovyan Saint John the Baptist Church Seminaries Gevorkian Theological Seminary Vaskenian Theological Academy
Caucasus	Tbilisi, Georgia Ejmiatsin Church Vank Monastery Church of the Red Gospel Church of the Holy Seal Azerbaijan Saint Gregory Church of Baku Ghazanchetsots Cathedral Kanach Zham
Russia	Moscow Armenian Cathedral Saint Catherine's Armenian Church, Saint Petersburg
Europe	Austria Mekhitarist Monastery of Vienna France Paris Cathedral Italy Mekhitarist Monastery of Venice (San Lazzaro) Santa Croce degli Armeni Romania Armenian Church, Bucharest United Kingdom Church of St Yeghiche St Sarkis
Middle East	Cyprus Holy Mother of God Cathedral, Nicosia Lebanon Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia Armenian Catholic Patriarchate Cathedral of St Elias and St Gregory the Illuminator Syria Church of the Holy Mother of God Cathedral of the Forty Martyrs of Sebastia St. Hagop Church St. Gregory the Illuminator Church Holy Trinity Church Holy Cross Church Armenian Genocide Memorial Church (Der Zor) Iran St. Sargis Church, Tehran Holy Mother of God Church, Tehran St. Vartanants Church, Tehran Shoghakat Church, Tabriz Turkey Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople St. Giragos Armenian Church Kartal Surp Nişan Armenian Orthodox Church Taksim Surp Harutyun Church
Asia	Singapore Saint Gregory
United States	Church of Our Savior, Worcester Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church, New York City Holy Cross Armenian Cathedral, Montebello Holy Trinity Church, Fresno St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church St. Vartan Cathedral Saint Sarkis of Dearborn Seminaries St. Nersess Armenian Seminary

v t e Vanadzor
Places of worship	Church of the Holy Mother of God Church of the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary Surp Sarkis Church Saint Gregory of Narek Cathedral Holy Children Chapel
Culture and Education	Lori-Pambak Archaeological Museum House-museum of Stepan Zoryan Vanadzor Fine Art Museum Vanadzor State University Mkhitar Gosh Armenian-Russian International University Vanadzor Technology Center
Other	Hayk Square Vanadzor Botanical Garden Vanadzor Central Park Diocese of Gougark Vanadzor City Stadium Vanadzor Football Academy Lori FC

External links

Categories: