Sourb Astvatzatzin Church :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Sourb Astvatzatzin Church 18 c․

Georgia / Kakhet / Sagarejo / Manav

Location
18 c․

It used to be located in the village.

Samvel Karapetian, Kakhet Armenians, Yerevan, 2004, p. 151. The original in Armenian.

Historical Introduction
1839 y․

In 1839 it was mentioned by the name of Sourb Astvatzatzin (Holy Virgin).

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 457, pp. 26-27. The original in Armenian.

1923 y․

Manav’s Sourb Astvatzatzin Church closed on 29 March 1923.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 409, list 1, file 3146, p. 10. Touching upon the closing of the church, priest Harutiun writes that on 29 March, the representative of the local Soviet authorities ordered that “... the cross of the bell tower of Sourb Astvatzatzin Church in Manav Village be lowered. Appropriating the curtain of the holy altar, the chalice with its flat font, many images and chandeliers as well as numerous other church articles, they sealed the door of the building in my absence... .” National Archives of Armenia, fund 57, list 3, file 463, p. 25. The originals in Armenian.

1878 y․

Foundation

The date of its foundation is vague, but presumably, it traces as far back as the 18th century or even an earlier period.

Samvel Karapetian, Kakhet Armenians, Yerevan, 2004, p. 151. The original in Armenian.

Repairs
1885 y․

In 1885 the parish church was in a state of utter collapse, which is also asserted by the following record, “Manav’s Armenian church of the Holy Virgin is on the verge of total ruin.”

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3879, p. 225. The original in Armenian.

1898 y․

In 1898 priest Harutiun Stepanossiants from the adjacent village of Kakabet, who was also the pastor of Manav Armenians, was anxious to carry out repairs in the church. The following quotation elucidates this further, “... The Holy Virgin Church of Manav Village, built of stone and mortar under the sponsorship of Yegor Grigorian Pridoniants, an honourable citizen of Tpghis, Georgia, is in bad need of reconstruction. Meeting my request, the most respected descendants of the late Pridoniants agreed to repair the church with their own means, which has been carried out this spring.”