Armenian cathedral: description, history, sights and interesting facts

The cathedral opened for 17 years. The Armenian cathedral was started to be erected in 1996, but due to some events, as well as due to lack of money, the construction was temporarily stopped. The complex was opened in 2013, the event was one of the important not only for the Armenian diaspora, but also for the Muscovites. Outside Armenia, such a majestic temple in the Armenian Apostolic Church nowhere else exists. Let's talk 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, and also one of the spiritual centers of Armenians in Russia. Complex buildings are made in light-ohrist shade, among them the juicy, bright forms of the cathedral's walls rise. For their registration, Pink Ani tuff was used, which was specially brought from Armenia, it took 100 carriages of material. The facades are fully decorated with belts with carved ornaments, with various bas-relief ornaments that depict the all-Christian saints, as well as the holy faces of the Armenian church.

According to strict Armenian canons, the Armenian Cathedral in Moscow was erected. The testimonies of those who were fortunate enough to be a participant or witness to the construction, confirm how much effort and effort was invested in every brick of the temple. Architect Artak Gulyan is the author of the project. The temple is located on the stylobate - it is a church foundation, characteristic of all Armenian cathedrals. The temple is visible from afar, but if you approach it closer, then on the main facade you can see the seven-meter figure of Christ. The facade itself resembles a book with pictures. The masterful hand of Ashot Adamyan depicts the whole history of the Armenian religion. Unique is not only the facade. The interior is also conceived as a continuation of the history of the Orthodoxy of the Armenians. Travertine, reminiscent of white marble and wood, was used as a decoration here.

Style

The Armenian cathedral, whose sculptural temple volume is based entirely on the traditions of Armenian architecture, is made in the classical style. The interior space of the cathedral is as close as possible to the circular form, framed by seven aspidums. At the mark of +11 there is a tier-balcony, specially erected for the choir. Raisa Gadzhyanova during the construction evaluated the acoustic data of the premises. The temple's stylobate is made in two levels, it is paved with granite slabs and granite pavers. The drum rests on eight pylons. Individual triangular faces in the form of folds form a tent. Retaining walls, parapets - all are lined with a different shade of tuff, the floor is covered with granite and marble. As a decoration both from the inside and outside was used the skillful carving on the stone, performed by the best masters of Armenia. The Armenian cathedral, whose architecture admires all parishioners, reaches fifty meters in height, if we do not take into account the height of the cross. The width of the cathedral is 35, and the length is 40 meters. It can accommodate up to a thousand parishioners at the same time.

The composition of the temple complex

The temple complex, the area of which is 11 thousand square meters. Meters, includes:

• Armenian cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
• Church of Surb Khach.
• The residence of the Catholicos.
• Guest complex.
• Educational complex.
• Administrative complex.
• Chapel of the Holy Cross.
• The museum.
• Refectory.
• Underground parking.
• The spring-monument.

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 Armenian president, Armenian bishops from different countries, Patriarch Kirill and other leaders of Russian confessions attended this loud event. Garegin II named the Cathedral in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Before the service, none of those present did not know what holy or divine holiday the temple would be dedicated to. Catholicos Garegin II presented as a gift at the consecration a piece of the Cross on which Christ suffered, as well as a silver lamp, which will be the symbol of the light of Christianity, faith, good, love, spiritual community.

Patriarch Kirill at the opening ceremony

Patriarch Kirill was present at the consecration ceremony. He thanked the Armenian Diaspora on behalf of all believing Russians for the fact that she made every effort to activate the Armenian Cathedral 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 the holy one said, the cathedrals are not built to become monuments or to remind of the work of builders, but for people to gather in them for prayer, to communicate with God. At present, the world is doing everything so that God's word is forgotten, the task of the church is to restore faith and show that the ideas of God are still alive today. Parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church can not take communion in Armenian churches. But the brotherhood and cooperation of the AAC and the ROC has been observed for many centuries. Spiritual ties between nations are growing, and this is more than economic or political cooperation.

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

The new church was named by the priests as a man-made monument to the Allied and Russian-Armenian brotherhoods. I remember the common heroic past, the spiritual unity of our two peoples, the dynamism of the present relationship and the promising future are noted. The present cathedral, built in Moscow, is a song of mutual penetration of our hopes and dreams, souls and hearts, thoughts. The Armenian Diaspora believes that the new temple is the page of the fruitful presence of Armenia and its church on the fertile friendly land of Russia. It is a memory for all our previous generations, ancestors, who told us to cherish the relationship as an apple of our eye, friendship between the two peoples. This obelisk is for all those who have laid down their heads for our conflict-free coexistence in this world. This is a tribute to 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 a pastor.

Glory to the creators of the temple

The cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church was erected thanks to the efforts of the Armenian Diaspora. Words of gratitude and glory were sung to philanthropists. The life-giving temple was called the construction of the century. The praise of the wisdom and courtesy of the head of the AAC of the most holy Catholicos Garegin II, he carries the talent of all his predecessors in himself. It was by his efforts, successive actions, that the Armenian Church in the Russian capital was born. Life-giving rainbow joined the Russian Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic Church, brothers in Christ, the most holy Patriarch Cyril and Catholicos Garegin II. Their holies teach us day and night to create, create for the sake of consolidating our Christian brotherhood.

A significant role in the erection of the church was played by the head of the church Erzas Nersisyan. The temple can be called his brainchild, the crown of his activity on Russian soil. As an ordinary worker, having rolled up his sleeves, he passed the whole building, beginning with the first brick. He was a diligent builder, and designer, and architect, and inspirer, the head of construction. Undoubtedly, this complex will become the focus of all Russian Armenians. It would be desirable that the most beautiful church became one of the places of pilgrimage not only of Armenian, but also of Russian parishioners, attracted the attention of all believers.

Interesting Facts

For the construction of the temple the site was allotted 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 to open it in 2001. However, the unpleasant story broke these plans. In 2000, the head of the Novo-Nakhichevan and Russian AAC archbishop Tigran Kureghyan was accused of appropriating a huge amount donated for the construction of the temple ($ 3 million). In 2001, the archbishop was deprived of his rank. In 2005, the court found this information null and void. However, the funds were not found, and the new bishop Erzas Nersisyan had to again collect a bit of money for the temple. According to the head of the diocese, the complex was built on a new project, the author of which was architect Artak Ghulyan. Construction began in 2006 and ended in 2013.