Sourb Astvatzatzin Church :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Sourb Astvatzatzin Church 19 c․

Georgia / Kakhet / Gurjaan / Velistsikhe

Historical Introduction
1865 y․

1946 y․

1923 y․

After the establishment of the Soviet rule, Sourb Astvatzatzin Church functioned till 6 April 1923.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 409, list 1, file 3146, p. 9; fund 57, list 3, file 525, p. 33. The original in Armenian.

1810 y․

The first written record on the Armenian church in Velistsikhe, distinguished for its large Armenian population, dates back to 1810, but indeed, its foundation dates back to an earlier period.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 447, p. 8. The original in Armenian.

Architectural Description

Sourb Astvatzatzin represents a large, single-nave, vaulted basilica of the following exterior dimensions: 16,96 x 9,32. The gable roof is supported from inside by the arches, resting on two pairs of pylons. In the east the apse and two sacristies are located, in the northern wall the font is preserved. The three entrances open in the west, north and south. The church, whose roof is tegular, is built of pebble, brick and mortar. At a distance of several metres from the monument, near its northwestern wall, the lofty, 14m tall bell tower is standing. Erected in 1888, it was built of brick and mortar, and ends in a broach.

Samvel Karapetian, Kakhet Armenians, Yerevan, 2004, p. 48. The original in Armenian.

Repairs
1862 y․

Velistsikhe’s Armenian church underwent repairs for many times. On 8 August 1862, Zakaria Kapanakiants informed the spiritual powers that the cracks in the western, eastern and southern walls of the building had rendered it absolutely unfit for further repairs: it should just be “replaced” by another church. The realization of that work required 50.000 bricks, 60 carts of lime, 300 carts of sand, 60.000 tiles and other building materials, the total expenses amounting to 2.000 roubles.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 4429, pp. 1-2, 4. The original in Armenian.

1894 y․

1913 y․

Priests
1862 — 1888 yy․

1884 — 1890 yy․

1896 y․

1905 y․

1913 y․

1946 — 1951 yy․

1951 y․

1810 — 1818 yy․

Harutiun Ghazarian and Hovhannes Ter-Grigorian. Reference is made to them in 1810-1818. Both of them were ordained in 1810 by archbishop Hovhannes.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 2569, p. 42. The original in Armenian.

1844 y․

In 1844 one of the two priests of the village consigned his soul to God, being replaced by petitioner Gevorg Sargssian Ter-Arakelian.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 1554, p. 1. The original in Armenian.

1862 y․

In 1862 reference is made to senior priest Ter-Nersissiants.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3841, p. 226. The original in Armenian.

1780 — 1818 yy․

Senior priest Movses Harutiunian, born in 1748. Mention is made of him in 1780-1818. Ordained in 1780 by Aghvank Catholicos Yeghiazar.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 2569, p. 42. The original in Armenian.

Description
1849 y․

1888 y․

1818 y․

A record of 1818 states the following, “Velistsikhe Village has a vaulted church, bearing the name of the Holy Virgin. It was built of stone and mortar under the sponsorship of Jaro Kapanakian... .”

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 2569, p. 42. The original in Armenian.

1818 y․

Inscription, Georgian, Engraved, Donation

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1988 — 1992 yy․

Inscription, Armenian, Commemoration

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the north-east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 — 1992 yy․

Type Photo
View Partial view
Direction From the south-east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 — 1992 yy․

Type Photo
View Interior
Direction From the west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1988 — 1992 yy․

Type Photo
View Interior
Direction From the east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1988 — 1992 yy․

Type Photo
View Partial view
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1988 y․

Type Photo
View Partial view
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 — 1992 yy․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 — 1992 yy․

Type Photo
View Interior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 — 1992 yy․