The residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians will be constructed
within 2 years
04.07.2009 15:10 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Yerevan hosted a soil consecration
ceremony. The residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians will be
reconstructed on the consecrated soil, nearby St. Katoghike Church at
the intersection of Sayat-Nova and Abovyan Streets. The ceremony was
conducted by the Catholocos of All Armenians, Garegin II.
On Holy Echimiadzin’s initiative, St. Anna’s Church, which will
complete a church complex of St. Katoghike, and the residence of
Catholicos of All Armenians, will be constructed in accordance with
architect Hrach Poghosyan’s project and with financial assistance of
Hrayr and Anna Hovnanyans.
The consecration ceremony was attended by RA President Serzh Sargsyan,
Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglaryan, Hrayr and Anna Hovnanyans, public and
cultural workers.
St. Katoghike Church was located in the centre of the Shahar District
(presently at the intersection of Abovyan and Sayat-Nova streets). It
was built after the big earthquake, during the years 1693-1695. Built
with tufa-stone and cement, it belonged to the three-nave basilica
type without a dome. Considering the sizes of its prayer hall (14.0 x
19.3 m), and its outside perimeter (16.4 x 28.4 m), it was perhaps one
of the most capacious churches of old Yerevan. The church had
entrances on both the southern and western sides.
The walls of the Church lacked the usual means of architectural
expression, save the khachkars (cross-stones) that appeared on its
walls here and there dating back to the years 1679, 1693, 1694, and
1695.
When the walls were demolished, old khachkars were found in them
referring to the years 1472, 1641 and 1642. According to historical
studies there had been a church on the same site of the present church
traditionally called `St. Astvatsatsin Church’.
The hypothesis related to the existence of this old church was
completely confirmed during the demolition of the St. Katoghike
Church, when the southern and northern walls to which the two vestries
were annexed were opened.
The St. Astvatsatsin Church, which continues to bear the name of
`St. Katoghike’, is relatively of small size (5.4 x 7.5 m). Due to the
very limited facilities, it can offer for the required church rituals,
it serves only as a chapel – merely a prayer house.