BLESSED VIRGIN ICON FOR GANZASAR MONASTERY

LRAGIR.AM
13:43:06 – 07/04/2009

On April 7, the solemn ceremony of passing the Blessed Virgin Icon to
the Ganzasar monastery (13 cent.) took place in Stepanakert. This
decision was made by the NKR authorities in honour of the 20th
anniversary of the establishment of the Artsakh diocese of the Armenian
Apostolic church.

The age of the Blessed Virgin Icon dates to the 18th century. During
the last years the icon was of great popularity and many just were
coming to pray in front of it.

In Stepanakert, where there has been no active church recently, a
cathedral is being constructed now. In May 2007, Saint Hakob church
construction was terminated, which was constructed by the measures
of the Yepremyan family from Los-Angeles.

The activities of the Armenian Apostolic church were restored in the
Nagorno-Karabakh in 1988. More than 30 churches have been reconstructed
in the Nagorno-Karabakh during the period past since the conflict.

In the 18-19 centuries, the residence of the Armenian Catholicos
was situated in the Ganzasar monastery of Artsakh. According to
the pastor archbishop Pargev Martirosyan in the beginning of the 20
century, there were 118 churches and 12 monasteries in the territory
of the Nagorno-Karabakh which were closed in 1930. And according
to the Karabakhi investigator Hrachik Artunyan, during the Soviet
period and the conflict 1991-1994, 167 churches have been destroyed,
8 monasteries, 123 historical Armenian cemeteries and 47 settlements.

By March 2009, 11 religious organizations are registered in the
Nagorno-Karabakh, which do not concern the Armenian Apostolic Church.