St. Gevorg Church :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

St. Gevorg Church 1830 y․

Georgia / Javakhk / Akhalkalak / Arakova

Historical Introduction
1841 y․

One of the earliest references to St. Gevorg Church, founded in the 1830s, traces back to 1841.

Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 56, ց. 1, գ. 1005, թ. 1, 22: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 86.

Foundation
1830 y․

One of the earliest references to St. Gevorg Church, founded in the 1830s.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 86.

Repairs
1877 — 1890 yy․

Architect Grigor Kirakossian, who resettled from Karin in Abastuman in 1877, thoroughly reconstructed the church with the means of Priest Grigor Ter-Avetissian. St. Gevorg Church was housed in quite a remarkable edifice: “This village has a large, magnificent church... It rests on 12 pillars, each of which bears a representation of one of the Apostles...” By the 1890s, however, the church had appeared in a state of decrepitude: “...the church doors remain closed due to its old age. The villagers who wish to replace it with a new one have applied to architect Mr. N. Grigorian for advice.”

Լալայան Ե., Երկեր, հ. 1, Երևան, 1983, էջ 60: Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 227, ց. 1, գ. 27, թ. : «Մշակ», 1877, N 10, էջ 2: «Նոր-Դար», 1896, N 201, էջ 3: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 86.

1899 — 1909 yy․

A document of 1899 states: “...it is already 2 to 3 years since the church was pulled down, depriving us of divine service...” The situation did not change in 1901either, but in 1903 the construction of a new church finally began: “...Aragova has already embarked upon work—now the older church is being destroyed to be replaced by a new one.” The construction of the new sanctuary being completed in 1905, it was blessed in a solemn ceremony in 1909 (as attested by the local people). The newly-erected church (24.90 x 14.70 metres) represents quite a spacious monument with a wooden tambour (the other parts are built of stone). Its western pediment is surmounted by a belfry.

«Նոր-Դար», 1899, N 187, էջ 2։ «Մշակ», 1901, N 98, էջ 3։ «Արարատ», 1903, էջ 437։ Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, pp. 86-87.

Description

At present St. Gevorg Church stands intact, with the exception of its drum, which is in a bad state of disrepair.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 87.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south-east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 y․

Type Photo
View Partial view
Direction From the south-west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1988 y․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south-west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2005 y․

Type Photo
View Detail
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 y․

The belfry of the sanctuary.

Type Measurement
View `
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Sketch

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2004 y․