Armenian Cathedral: description, history, sights and interesting facts

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

The opening of the cathedral has been waiting for a long 17 years. The construction of the Armenian Cathedral began in 1996, but due to some events, as well as due to lack of funds, construction was temporarily stopped. The complex was opened in 2013, this event was one of the most important not only for the Armenian diaspora, but also for Muscovites. Outside of Armenia, such a majestic temple near the Armenian Apostolic Church does not exist anywhere else. We will tell you more about it in the article.

Armenian Cathedral. Description of the temple

The Armenian temple complex in Moscow is the residence of the Patriarchal Exarch, as well as one of the spiritual centers of Armenians in Russia. Complex buildings are made in a light ocher shade, among them rise the juicy, bright forms of the walls of the cathedral. For their design, pink Ani tuff was used, whichwere specially brought from Armenia, in total it took 100 wagons of material. The facades are completely decorated with carved belts, with various bas-relief decorations depicting common Christian saints, as well as the holy faces of the Armenian Church.

The Armenian Cathedral in Moscow was built according to strict Armenian canons. The reviews of those who were lucky enough to be a participant or witness to the construction confirm how much effort and effort was invested in each brick of the temple. Architect Artak Ghulyan is the author of the project. The temple is located on the stylobate - this is a church foundation, characteristic of all Armenian cathedrals. You can see the temple from afar, but if you get closer to it, then on the main facade you can see the seven-meter figure of Christ. The façade itself resembles a picture book. The whole history of the Armenian religion is depicted here by the masterful hand of Ashot Adamyan. Not only the facade is unique. The interior is also conceived as a continuation of the history of Armenian Orthodoxy. Travertine was used as a finish, reminiscent of white marble and wood.

Style

Armenian Cathedral, the sculptural volume of which is entirely based on the tradition of Armenian architecture, is made in the classical style. The inner space of the cathedral is as close as possible to a circular shape, framed by seven asps. At +11 there is a tier-balcony, specially erected for the choir. Raisa Gadzhyanova assessed the acoustic data of the premises during construction. The stylobate of the temple is made in two levels,It is paved with granite slabs and granite paving stones. The drum rests on eight pylons. Separate triangular faces in the form of folds form a tent. Retaining walls, parapets - all this is lined with tuff of various shades, the floor is covered with granite and marble. Skillful stone carving was used as decoration both inside and outside, which was performed by the best masters of Armenia. The Armenian Cathedral, whose architecture delights all parishioners, reaches a height of fifty meters, if you do not take into account the height of the cross. The cathedral is 35 meters wide and 40 meters long. It can accommodate up to a thousand parishioners at the same time.

Composition of the temple complex

The temple complex, whose area is 11 thousand square meters. meters, includes:

• Armenian Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
• Surb-Khach Church.
• Residence of the Catholicos.
• Guest complex.
• Educational complex.
• Administrative complex.
• Chapel of the Holy Cross.
• Museum.
• Refectory.
• Underground parking.
• Monument spring.

Consecration of the Cathedral of the Armenian Church

In 2013, a grandiose event took place on the Olympic Avenue. The Cathedral of the Armenian Church was consecrated. The temple is now the center of the Russian and Novo-Nakhichevan diocese. Serzh Sargsyan, the President of Armenia, Armenian bishops fromdifferent countries, Patriarch Kirill and other leaders of Russian confessions. Garegin II named the cathedral in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Before the service, none of those present knew what saint or divine holiday the temple would be dedicated to. Catholicis Garegin II presented as a gift at the consecration a piece of the Cross, on which Christ suffered his torment, as well as a silver icon lamp, which will be a symbol of the light of Christianity, faith, goodness, love, spiritual community.

Patriarch Kirill at the opening

Patriarch Kirill attended the consecration ceremony. On behalf of all believing Russians, he thanked the Armenian diaspora for making every effort to ensure that the Armenian Cathedral began to function in Moscow. The Patriarch stressed that Russia, together with Armenia, is making every effort to revive the Christian faith in the post-religious 21st century. As His Holiness said, cathedrals are built not to become monuments or to remind of the work of the builders, but so that people gather in them for prayer, for communion with God. At present, the world is doing everything to ensure that God's word is forgotten, the task of the church is to restore faith and show that the ideas of God are alive in our day. Parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church cannot receive communion in Armenian churches. But the brotherhood and cooperation between the AAC and the ROC has been observed for many centuries. Spiritual ties between peoples are growing, and this is more than economic or political cooperation.

Armenian Cathedral in Moscow - a monument to the Russian-Armenian brotherhood

The new temple was called by the priests a man-made monument to the alliance and the Russian-Armenian brotherhood. The common heroic past, the spiritual unity of our two peoples are recalled, the dynamism of present relations and a promising future are noted. This cathedral, built in Moscow, is a song to the mutual penetration of our hopes and aspirations, souls and hearts, thoughts. The Armenian diaspora believes that the new temple is a page of the fruitful presence of Armenia and its church in the fertile friendly land of Russia. This is a memory of all our previous generations, ancestors who were ordered to cherish relations and friendship between the two peoples as the apple of their eye. This is an obelisk to all those who laid down their lives for our conflict-free coexistence in this world. This is a tribute to the memory of those church ministers who, in the difficult years of persecution and repression, did not betray their faith, but carried the truth of Christ and fulfilled the mission of a preacher and pastor.

Glory to the creators of the temple

The Cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church was built thanks to the efforts of the Armenian Diaspora. Words of gratitude and glory were sung to benefactors. The life-giving temple was called the construction site of the century. Praise to the wisdom and courtesy of the head of the AAC, His Holiness Catholicos Garegin II, he carries the talent of all his predecessors. It was through his efforts and consistent actions that the Armenian Church was born in the capital of Russia. The life-giving rainbow united the Russian Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic Churches, brothers in Christ, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill andCatholicos Garegin II. Day and night, their Holiness teaches us to create, to create in the name of strengthening our Christian brotherhood.

The primate of the church Yerzas Nersisyan played a significant role in the erection of the temple. The temple can be called his brainchild, the crown of his activities on Russian soil. As an ordinary worker, rolling up his sleeves, he went through the entire construction site, starting from the first brick. He was a diligent builder, and designer, and architect, and inspirer, head of construction work. Undoubtedly, this complex will become the center of all Russian Armenians. I would like the most beautiful temple to become one of the places of pilgrimage not only for Armenian, but also for Russian parishioners, to attract the attention of all believers.

Interesting facts

For the construction of the temple, the site was allocated back in 1996, it was located at the address: Trifonovskaya, 24, the territory adjacent to the Olympic Avenue. The construction of the cathedral was planned to be completed in five years and opened in 2001. However, an unfortunate story disrupted these plans. In 2000, the head of the Novo-Nakhichevan and Russian AAC, Archbishop Tigran Kyureghyan, was accused of embezzling a huge amount donated for the construction of the temple (3 million dollars). In 2001, the archbishop was defrocked. In 2005, the court invalidated this information. However, funds were never found, and the new bishop Yerzas Nersisyan had to again collect bit by bit funds for the temple. According to the head of the diocese, the complex was built according to a new project, the authorwhose architect was Artak Ghulyan. Construction began in 2006 and completed in 2013.