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
Basic information
Location	Vanadzor, Lori Province,  Armenia
Affiliation	Diocese of Gougark, Armenian Apostolic Church
Year consecrated	1831
Architectural description
Architectural type	Armenian
Architectural 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 His Holiness Catholicos John VIII of Armenia.

History

13th-century khachkars near the church

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 he 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.^[1] 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.^[2]

References

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

Contemporary Armenian churches and seminaries
Armenia	Gevorkian Theological Seminary Vaskenian Theological Academy Yerevan Holy Trinity Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral Saint John the Baptist Saint Sarkis (Kentron) Saint Sarkis (Nor Nork) Saint Anna Church Gyumri Holy Mother of God Church of the Holy Saviour Vagharshapat Church of the Holy Archangels Oshakan Saint Mesrop Mashtots Cathedral Abovyan Saint John the Baptist Church
Nagorno Karabakh	Ghazanchetsots Cathedral Kanach Zham
Georgia	Tbilisi Church of the Holy Seal Church of the Red Gospel Ejmiatsin Holy Mother of God (Bethlehem) Saint George Saint Gevorg of Mughni Saint Karapet Saint Stephanos Chugureti St. Astvatsatsin
Lebanon	Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia Armenian Catholic Patriarchate
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)
Azerbaijan	Saint Gregory of Baku
Iran	Saint Sargis
United States	Church of Our Savior, Worcester Holy Trinity Church, Fresno St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church St. Vartan Cathedral Saint Sarkis of Dearborn
Turkey	Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople St. Giragos Armenian Church Kartal Surp Nişan Armenian Orthodox Church Taksim Surp Harutyun Church
Other countries	Austria Mekhitarist Monastery of Vienna India Armenian Church, Chennai Armenian Church of the Holy Nazareth Italy Mekhitarist Monastery of Venice (San Lazzaro) Santa Croce degli Armeni Ukraine Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Singapore Saint Gregory
Armenia Portal

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 Technological Center
Other	Hayk Square Vanadzor Botanical Garden Vanadzor Central Park Diocese of Gougark Lori Stadium Vanadzor Football Academy FC Lori