- Church of the Holy Mother of God (Aleppo)
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This article is about the church in Aleppo, Syria. For other churches with the same name, see Church of the Holy Mother of God.
Holy Mother of God
Սուրբ Աստուածածին Եկեղեցի
كنيسة السيدة
Location within AleppoBasic information Location Suleimaniyeh Area, Elias IV Patriarch Street,
Aleppo, SyriaGeographic coordinates 36°13′11″N 37°09′31″E / 36.2198°N 37.1587°ECoordinates: 36°13′11″N 37°09′31″E / 36.2198°N 37.1587°E Affiliation Armenian Apostolic Church Region Aleppo Year consecrated 1 May 1983 Ecclesiastical or organizational status active Architectural description Architect(s) Kevork Karajerjian (Lebanon), Kegham Khrigian Architectural type Church Architectural style Armenian Groundbreaking 1972 Church of the Holy Mother of God [1] (also Surp Asdvadzadzin, Surp Asdvatsatsin, Surp Asdvatsatsna, Virgin Mary church) is an Armenian Apostolic church in Suleimaniyeh area of Aleppo, Syria, near the Quweiq river. The construction of the church is active since its cinsecration which took place on 1 May 1983, by His Holiness Karekin II of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia at that time.
Contents
Background
The current church of the Holy Mother of God is considered the continuation of the historic church of the Holy Mother of God of the old Christian Jdeydeh quarter, which was opened in 1429 and operated until the beginnings of the 20th century, within the courtyard of the Forty Martyrs Cathedral of Aleppo, when it was turned into a library and recently to the Zarehian Museum in 1991.
History
The church at night
The absence of a church to serve the large Armenian community of the Suleimaniyeh area of Aleppo, arose the idea of building a new church, which became true with the donations of Armenian benefactors -especially those whose roots were from the Cilician city of "Aintab" (nowadays Gaziantep)- and throughout the efforts of father Zarmayr Hindoyan, the spiritual leader of Aintabian Armenians in Aleppo.
The ground-blessing ceremony took place on 10 September 1972 with the presence of His Holiness Khoren I Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, during the period of Bishop Datev Sarkissian. The construction work was finished completely in 1982. The consecration ceremony took place on 1 May 1983 under the patronage of His Holiness Karekin II then-Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.
Nowadays, the church itself plays a big role in the life of the Armenians of Aleppo. It is usually crowded with faithfuls during regular Sunday masses. Due to its location in a luxury and relatively calm district, it has become the most popular and preferred church among the Armenians to implement their weddings and other religious ceremonies and services. Because of the congested schedule of ceremonies, one has to make a reservation even before 5 or 6 months in order to arrange an appropriate date for his wedding or other religious event, especially during summers.
A large hall with a stage is designated downstairs, to hold several events run by the community members. It is frequently used for cultural meetings, concerts, seminars and celebrations (opened in 1987, renovated in 1991 and 2010 respectively).
In 1993, a Khachkar-memorial (author Sarkis Balmanougian) was erected in th right side of the main entrance of the church, to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The church was completely renovated in 1998.
Adjacent to the church there is the Armenian Gertasirats High School along with the Zohrab Kaprielian Theatre.
Gallery
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During Palm Sunday
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Side view
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The altar
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Gertasirats High School at the church complex
See also
- Armenians in Syria
- Armenian Apostolic Church
- Echmiadzin
- List of Armenian Catholicoi of Cilicia
- Cathedral of the Forty Martyrs (Aleppo)
- Holy See of Cilicia
References
- ^ Armenian sites of Aleppo. Armenian Prelacy of PeriaCo.. 1992. pp. 40.
External links
Contemporary Armenian Churches and Seminaries 
Armenia Etchmiadzin Cathedral · Gevorkian Theological Seminary · Gayane · Geghard · Goshavank · Hovhannavank · Hripsime · Karmravor · Kecharis · Khor Virap · Oshakan · Saghmosavank · Sanahin · Shoghakat · Tegher · Vaskenian Theological Academy · Yeghvart Yerevan: Holy Trinity · Katoghike · Saint Poghos-Petros Church · Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral · Saint John the Baptist · Saint Sargis (Kentron) · Saint Sarkis (Nor Nork) · Surb Zoravor Astvatsatsin Church 
Nagorno Karabakh Republic (Artsakh) France Île-de-France: St. Jean-Baptiste Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, Paris · St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Chaville · Holy Mother of God Armenian Apostolic Church, Issy-les-Moulineaux · St. Paul and St. Peter Church, Alfortville · Holy Cross of Varak Armenian Church, Arnouville-Lès-Gonesse · Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Cathedral, Paris · St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Catholic Church, Arnouville-Lès-Gonesse · Rhône-Alpes: St. Jack Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, Lyon · Holy Mother of God Armenian Apostolic Church, Décines · St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, St. Etienne · Saint Neshan Church, Charvieu-Chavagneux · Saint Sahak Church, Valence · St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Valence · Armenian Apostolic Church, Grenoble · St. Nicolas Church, Romans · Armenian Apostolic Church, Vienne · Armenian Catholic Church, Lyon · Armenian Catholic Church, Valence · St. Nerses Armenian Catholic Church, Saint Chamond · Marseille and Southern France: St. Mesrob and St. Sahak Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, Marseille · Holy Mother of God Armenian Apostolic Church, Marseille · St. Garabed Church, Marseille · St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew Chruch, Marseille · St. Jack Church, Marseille · Holy Savior Armenian Apostolic Church, La Ciotat · Holy Mother of God Armenian Apostolic Church, Nice · St. John Armenian Church, Saint-Raphaë · St. Vartan Armenian Church, Avignon · St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Catholic Church, Marseille Turkey Aghtamar · Holy Apostles Church of Kars · Holy Apostles Monastery · Horomos · Ktuts · Monastery of the All-Saviour (Trebizond) · Mren · Narekavank · Saint Bartholomew Monastery · Saint Karapet Monastery · St. Marineh Church, Mush · Tekor Basilica · Varagavank Georgia Tbilisi: Cathedral of Saint Gevorg · Church of the Holy Seal · Church of the Red Gospel · Ejmiatsin · Holy Mother of God (Bethlehem) · Holy Mother of God (Mens) · Holy Mother of God (Norashen) · Saint George · Saint Gevorg of Mughni · Saint Karapet · Saint Minas · Saint Stephanos · Chugureti St. Astvatsatsin Lebanon Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia · Armenian Catholic Patriarchate ·
Beirut: Armenian Church of the Holy Cross, Beirut · Holy Cross (St. Neshan) Church, Beirut Central District · St. Elie - St. Krikor Lousavoritch Cathedral, Beirut · Saint George Armenian Apostolic Church, Beirut · Saint Hagop Church, Beirut · Saint Sarkis Church, Beirut · Armenian Catholic Church of the Annunciation, Beirut · Armenian Catholic Church of the Annunciation , Beirut ·
Bourj Hammoud: The Church of the Forty Martyrs of Sebastia, Bourj Hammoud · St. Mesrob Church, Bourj Hammoud · Holy Mother of God Armenian Church, Bourj Hammoud · St. Saviour Armenian Catholic Church, Bourj Hammoud · St. Savior Armenian Catholic Church, Bourj Hammoud
Bikfaya: Armenian Apostolic Seminary at Bikfaya · Convent Of Mekhitarist Fathers, Bikfaya ·
Anjar: St. Paul Church, Anjar · Our Lady of the Rosary Armenian Catholic Church, Anjar ·
Others: Our Lady Convent Of Bzoummar · Holy Cross Church, Zalka · St. Rita Church, Mezher · Holy Pentecost Armenian Apostolic Church, Tripoli · Our Lady of Fatima Armenian Catholic Church, Zahle ·Syria Aleppo: Church of the Holy Mother of God · Cathedral of the forty martyrs of Sebastia · St. Hagop Church · St. Gregory the Illuminator Church · Holy Trinity Church · Holy Cross Church · Church of Our Lady of Annunciation · Cathedral of Our Mother of Reliefs · Damascus: St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Damascus · Our Lady of the Universe Armenian Catholic Church, Damascus · Latakia: St. Hripsime Church, Yacoubieh · St. Anna Church, Yacoubieh · Church of the Holy Mother of God, Kesab · Church of the Holy Mother of God, Latakia · Church of the Holy Mother of God, Karadouran · Armenian Church, Ekizoluk · St. Stephen Church,Aramo · St. George Church, Ghnemiyeh · Our Lady of the Assumption, Kesab · Deir ez-Zor: Armenian Genocide Memorial Church (Der Zor) · Ar-Raqqah: Church of the Holy Mother of God, Ar-Raqqah · Holy Cross Church, Abyad · Al-Hasakah: Church of the Holy Mother of God, Al-Malikiyah · Holy Cross Mother of God Church, Ra's al-'Ayn · Saint John the Baptist Church, Al-Hasakah · Saint Joseph Armenian Catholic Church, Al-Qamishli · Holy Family Church, Al-Hasakah Azerbaijan Iran Saint Sargis · Saint Thaddeus · Vank Cathedral Israel Cathedral of St. James · Church of the Archangels · St. Toros Church · Chapel of Saint Helena · Saint Nicholas Monastery United States Mother Cathedral of the Western Diocese, Burbank · Saint Mary's Armenian Church, Glendale · Saint Gregory the Illuminator Catholic Church, Glendale · St. Vartan Cathedral · Saint Sarkis of Dearborn Other countries Categories:- Armenian Apostolic churches
- Churches in Aleppo
- Armenian churches in Syria
- Religious buildings completed in 1983
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