St. Karapet Church :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

St. Karapet Church

Georgia / Kakhet / Sghnakh / Sghnakh

Historical Introduction
1788 y․

The exact date of its foundation is unknown, but it is mentioned in an archive document of 1788.

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

1923 y․

St. Karapet, the main Armenian church in the city, closed on 4 May 1923 and turned into a club.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 409, list 1, file 3146, p. 10. The original in Armenian.

1840 y․

1852 y․

19 c․

1906 y․

1912 y․

1913 y․

Repairs
1879 y․

In 1879 interior decor was planned to be carried out in the church under the guidance of master Vladimir Graypert, Tiflis, Georgia.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 12, file 382, pp. 1-2, 5-6. The original in Armenian.

1901 y․

In 1901 the roof and vestibule walls of St. Karapet Church were in need of repairs.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 1226, pp. 1-2. The original in Armenian.

1912 y․

In 1912 Vardan Mirzoyan sponsored the construction of 2 rooms for pilgrims in the church yard.

“Mshak”, 1912, N 182, p. 3. The original in Armenian.

Priests
1824 — 1898 yy․

Senior priest Stepanos Ter-Stepanossian (1824-1898). He received primary education with his father, priest Poghos, who taught Armenian and Religion in Lazarian Jemaran (originally the Armenian equivalent for the word ‘Academy’, later used with reference to some institutions of higher education), Moscow, Russia. In the 1840s, Stepanos Ter-Stepanossian studied at Nersissian School, Tiflis, Georgia, in 1852 he was ordained priest in Zakatala, Azerbaijan, after which he moved to Sghnakh, serving as a pastor there for 46 years. Stepanos Ter-Stepanossian was of immense instrumentality in the opening of Sghnakh School (1860). He was granted many bulls of blessing and high appreciation for his prolific activity.

“Nor-Dar”, 1898, N 35. The original in Armenian.

1852 y․

1838 — 1876 yy․

1923 y․

Destruction
1924 y․

The church was destroyed in 1924 on the order of the municipal authorities. With that regard a record states, “...St. Karapet Church of Sghnakh has been almost levelled with the ground: the front wall, extending along the altar, the dome as well as the vaults and vestibules have all been reduced to ruins. The same fate also threatens the other three walls.”