SURB ASTVATSATSIN CHURCH OF SHOSHKAVANK CONSECRATED

Noyan Tapan
Nov 16, 2009

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The Surb Astvatsatsin Church of
Shoshkavank was consecrated by the head of the Artsakh diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church Archishop Pergev Martirosian on November 12.

Shoshkavank as a sacred place dates back to the 13th century. The
church was thoroughly repaired with the donations of former Minister
of Defence of the NKR Samvel Babayan and his brother Karo Babayan,
while the expenses on equipping the area with modern amenities and
constructing the adjacent structures were covered by businessman
Tigran Khachatrian from Artsakh.

The Archbishop Pergev Martirosian together with clergymen of the
Artsakh diocese started the consecration ceremony early in the
morning. They consecrated the Holy Altar, the icon of the Mother
of God, the four pillars of the Altar with the names of the four
Evangelists written on them, the font, and the other pillars of
the church.

Following the consecration ceremony, a Holy Liturgy was celebrated in
Shoshkavank (after a long period of interruption) by the Archbishop
Pargev Martirosian. In his sermon, the head of the Artsakh diocese
stated that prayers in this church were interrupted because during the
years of godlessness the church underwent the same ordeal as the whole
people, sharing their fate. "The yoke of godlessness was also thrown
off by the Artsakh liberation struggle, and God granted a victory to
us and blessed us to restore our sacred places," the Archbishop said.

According to the information system of the Artsakh diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Chuech, the ceremony was attended by Speaker of the
NKR National Assembly Ashot Ghulian, Chairman of the Supreme Court
of the NKR Ararat Danielian, NA deputies, high-ranking officials,
and the faithful.