Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God, Gyumri

Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God Սուրբ Աստվածածին Մայր Եկեղեցի
Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God
Basic information
Location	Vartanants Square, Gyumri, Shirak Province,  Armenia
Affiliation	Diocese of Shirak, Armenian Apostolic Church
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	active
Architectural description
Architectural type	Armenian
Architectural style	Cruciform rectangular
Groundbreaking	1873
Completed	1884
Dome(s)	3

Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God (Armenian: Սուրբ Աստվածածին Մայր Եկեղեցի), also known as the Our Lady of Seven Wounds (Armenian: Սուրբ Աստվածամոր Յոթ Վերք), is a 19th-century church in Gyumri, Armenia. Occupying the northern side of the Vartanants Square, the cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Shirak of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The church was constructed between 1873 and 1884.^[1]

Architecture

The church of the Holy Mother of God belongs to the Cruciform style of the Armenian churches with an external rectangular shape. The belfry is located at the top of the main entrance on the western side of the building. The church is topped with a large dome at the center surrounded with 2 minor domes. Unlike other Armenian churches, the altar at the Holy Mother of God is unique for its multi-iconic decoration.

The church remained active during the Soviet years.^[2]

After the 1988 Spitak earthquake, the 2 minor domes fell down and they were replaced with new ones. The fallen domes are currently placed in the church yard.

Gallery

• 

  The church along with the fallen domes

• 

  The church as seen from the square

• 

  The altar

References

Coordinates: 40°47′10″N 43°50′32″E / 40.78611°N 43.84222°E / 40.78611; 43.84222

Contemporary Armenian churches and seminaries
Armenia	Gevorkian Theological Seminary Vaskenian Theological Academy Yerevan Holy Trinity Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral Saint John the Baptist Saint Sarkis (Kentron) Saint Sarkis (Nor Nork) Saint Anna Church Gyumri Holy Mother of God Church of the Holy Saviour Vagharshapat Church of the Holy Archangels Oshakan Saint Mesrop Mashtots Cathedral Abovyan Saint John the Baptist Church
Nagorno Karabakh	Ghazanchetsots Cathedral Kanach Zham
Georgia	Tbilisi Church of the Holy Seal Church of the Red Gospel Ejmiatsin Holy Mother of God (Bethlehem) Saint George Saint Gevorg of Mughni Saint Karapet Saint Stephanos Chugureti St. Astvatsatsin
Lebanon	Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia Armenian Catholic Patriarchate
Syria	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 Armenian Genocide Memorial Church (Der Zor)
Azerbaijan	Saint Gregory of Baku
Iran	Saint Sargis
United States	Church of Our Savior, Worcester Holy Trinity Church, Fresno St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church St. Vartan Cathedral Saint Sarkis of Dearborn
Turkey	Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople St. Giragos Armenian Church Kartal Surp Nişan Armenian Orthodox Church Taksim Surp Harutyun Church
Other countries	Austria Mekhitarist Monastery of Vienna India Armenian Church, Chennai Armenian Church of the Holy Nazareth Italy Mekhitarist Monastery of Venice (San Lazzaro) Santa Croce degli Armeni Ukraine Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Singapore Saint Gregory
Armenia Portal

Gyumri
Places of worship	Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God Church of the Holy Saviour Surp Nshan Church Saint Gregory the Illuminator's Church Saint Jacob of Nisibis Church Saint Nikolai the Wondeworker Church Saint Arsenije Church Saint Alexandra the Martyr's Church Cathedral of the Holy Martyrs
Landmarks	Kumayri historic district Sev Berd Fortress Poloz Mukuch Beerhouse Mother Armenia Diocese of Shirak Vartanants Square Independence Square Charles Aznavour Square
Museums and culture	Aslamazyan Sisters House-Museum Dzitoghtsyan Museum of National Architecture Sergey Merkurov House-Museum House-Museum of Avetik Isahakyan House-Museum of Hovhannes Shiraz House-Museum of Mher Mkrtchyan Vardan Ajemian State Drama Theatre
Science and Education	Gyumri Technology Center Gyumri State Pedagogical Institute Progress University Gyumri Academy of Fine Art Lord Byron School
Sports and recreation	Gyumri City Stadium FC Shirak Gyumri Football Academy Gyumri Chess School October Cinema Gyumri Central park Victory Park
Transportation	Shirak Airport Gyumri Railway Station