Saint John the Baptist Church, Yerevan

Saint John the Baptist Church Սուրբ Հովհաննես Մկրտիչ Եկեղեցի
Saint John the Baptist Church
Religion
Affiliation	Armenian Apostolic Church
District	Kentron
Region	Yerevan
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	active
Year consecrated	1710
Location
Location	Kond neighbourhood, Kentron, Yerevan, Armenia
Architecture
Architect(s)	Baghdasar Arzoumanian, Areg Israyelyan
Style	Armenian

Saint John the Baptist Church (Template:Lang-hy, Surp Hovhannes Mkrtich) is an active church in the old area of Kond, Yerevan, Armenia. First, it was built on the height of Kond district, in 1710, in the place of a medieval church ruined as the result of a destructive earthquake. It was built by a rich man, Melik Aghamal, living in Yerevan. Like the other medieval churches, this is a three-nave basilic church. The rectangular plan of the church includes the prayer-hall and the main altar on the eastern side, attached to which are the sacristies.

History

Being concerned by the unattractive state of the church, in 1979, architect Rafael Israelyan presented to Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen I a project of basic reconstruction of the church. The plan was improved, but unfortunately, the architect died the same year. After 10 years author’s son, architect Areg Israyelian turned his father’s initiative into a technical project, which was allowed to realize. The work project was prepared by the honored architect Baghdasar Arzoumanian and designing engineer Avetik Tekevejian. In 1980s the Church was entirely reconstructed and restored under the direct leadership of the civil engineer Mikayel Hovhannissian. The dome and the walls of the church were faced with tuf stone. Large-scale works were realized inside the church. In the western side an additional storey was built for the choir, the floor was paved with marble, the wall of the main altar was ornamented, the interior was renovated. Also the bell-tower of the church was built. In 2000 the educational-cultural center “Hovhannes Kozern” was built nearby the church where foreign language and computer courses are organized, the school of Icon art functions.

Gallery

• 
  Inside the church during Sunday liturgy service
• 
  St. John the Baptist Church before the renovation (1989) - view from Hotel Dvin
• 
  The belfry at the entrance
• 
  Surb Hovanes Mkrtich Church, Kond

External links

• Araratian Patriarchal Diocese
• Yerevan Municipality