The opening of the cathedral was waiting for a long 17 years. The Armenian Cathedral began to be erected in 1996, but due to some events, as well as due to a 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 magnificent temple at the Armenian Apostolic Church does not exist anywhere else. We will tell you more about it in the article.
Armenian Cathedral. Temple description
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 hue, among them towering juicy, brightly shaped walls of the cathedral. For their design, they used pink Aniwan tuff, which was specially brought from Armenia, in total 100 wagons of material were required. The facades are fully decorated with belts with carved ornaments, with various bas-relief ornaments that depict common Christian saints, as well as the holy faces of the Armenian Church.
According to strict Armenian canons, the Armenian Cathedral was built in Moscow. The reviews of those who were fortunate enough to be a participant or witness to the construction confirm how much effort and effort was put into each brick of the temple. Architect Artak Gulyan is the author of the project. The temple is located on the stylobate - this is the church foundation, characteristic of all Armenian cathedrals. The temple is visible from afar, but if you come closer to it, then on the main facade you can see a seven-meter figure of Christ. The facade itself resembles a picture book. Ashot Adamyan’s masterful hand here 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 Orthodoxy of Armenians. Travertine, reminiscent of white marble and wood, was used here as decoration.
Style
The Armenian Cathedral, the sculptural temple volume of which is completely 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 aspids. At +11 is a tier-balcony, specially built for the choir. Raisa Gadzhyanova during the construction evaluated the acoustic data of the room. The stylobate of the temple is made in two levels, it is paved from granite slabs and granite pavers. The drum rests on eight pylons. Separate triangular faces in the form of folds form a tent. Retaining walls, parapets - all this is faced with various shades of tuff, the floor is covered with granite and marble. As a decor, both inside and outside, skillful stone carving was used, 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 width of the cathedral is 35 and the length is 40 meters. It can accommodate up to a thousand parishioners at a time.
The composition of the temple complex
The temple complex, whose area is 11 thousand square meters. meters, includes:
- Armenian Cathedral of the Transfiguration.
- Church of Surb Khach.
- The residence of the Catholicos.
- Guest complex.
- Training complex.
- Administrative complex.
- Chapel of the Holy Cross.
- Museum
- Refectory.
- Underground parking.
- Spring monument.
Consecration of the Cathedral of the Armenian Church
In 2013, a grand event took place on Olympic Avenue. The Cathedral of the Armenian Church was consecrated . The temple is now the center of the Russian and New Nakhichevan diocese. Serzh Sargsyan, the President of Armenia, Armenian bishops from different countries, Patriarch Kirill and other leaders of Russian faiths attended this high-profile event. Garegin II named the cathedral in honor of the Transfiguration. Prior to the service, none of those present knew 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 his torment, as well as a silver lamp, which will be a symbol of the light of Christianity, faith, kindness, love, spiritual community.
Patriarch Kirill at the opening
The consecration ceremony was attended by Patriarch Cyril. On behalf of all believing Russians, he thanked the Armenian Diaspora for making every effort to ensure that the Armenian Cathedral began to operate in Moscow. The Patriarch emphasized 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, cathedrals are not built in order to become monuments or to remind about the work of builders, but so that people gather in them for prayer, for fellowship with God. Currently, the world is doing everything to forget God's word, the church’s task is to restore faith and show that the ideas of God are still alive today. Parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church cannot take communion in Armenian churches. But the brotherhood and cooperation of the AAC and the Russian Orthodox Church 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 fraternity
The new temple was called by the priests a man-made monument to alliance and the Russian-Armenian fraternity. I recall the common heroic past, the spiritual unity of our two peoples, the dynamism of present relations and a promising future are noted. This cathedral, built in Moscow, is a song of 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 on the fertile and friendly land of Russia. This is a memory to all our previous generations, ancestors who ordered us to protect relations, friendship between the two peoples as the apple of an eye. This is an obelisk to 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 shepherd.
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 site of the century. Praise the wisdom and courtesy of the head of the AAC, the Holy Catholicos Garegin II, he carries the talent of all his predecessors. It was through his efforts and consistent actions that the Armenian Church in the capital of Russia was able to emerge. The life-giving rainbow connected the Russian Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic churches, the brothers in Christ, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and Catholicos Garegin II. Their Holiness teaches us to create and create us day and night in the name of fastening our Christian brotherhood.
The primate of the church, Erzas Nersisyan, played a significant role in the erection of the temple. The temple can be called his brainchild, the crown of his activity on Russian soil. As an ordinary worker, rolling up his sleeves, he went through the entire construction, starting from the first brick. He was a diligent builder, and designer, and architect, and inspirer, construction manager. Of course, this complex will become the focus of all Russian Armenians. I would like the beautiful temple to become one of the pilgrimage places not only of Armenian, but also of Russian parishioners, to attract the attention of all believers.
Interesting Facts
For the construction of the temple, the site was allocated 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 unpleasant story violated these plans. In 2000, the head of the Novo-Nakhichevan and Russian AAC, Archbishop Tigran Kureghyan was charged with misappropriation of a huge sum donated for the construction of the temple ($ 3 million). In 2001, the archbishop was deprived of dignity. In 2005, the court declared this information invalid. However, no funds were found, and the new bishop, Erzas Nersisyan, again had to collect bit by bit the funds for the temple. According to the head of the diocese, the complex was built according to a new project, the author of which was architect Artak Gulyan. Construction began in 2006 and completed in 2013.