Description
The St. Hovhannes the Evangelist Mother Cathedral of the Masyatsotn Diocese was built in 2015. Until then, several chapels in the city served as places of prayer for the residents of Artashat.
The most famous of those chapels is Tukh Manuk, not far from the church, near the lake, whose doors were not closed even during the Soviet atheism.
To participate in the Divine Liturgy, Baptism, and Matrimony services, the city's residents mainly visited the St. Hakob Church in Mrgavan village or the Khor Virap Monastery.
The ground blessing service of the St. Hovhannes the Evangelist church was offered in 2002.
The area of the church was swampy, due to which the construction of the church took a long time. The church was built with the patronage Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan and Abrahamyan family.
The St. Hovhannes the Evangelist church was consecrated on May 31, 2015 by His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. Architects of the church are Mr. Artak Ghulyan and Mrs. Emma Fahradyan.
The structure of St. Hovhannes the Evangelist Church is similar to Armenian sanctuaries of the seventh century
The dome, bell tower, main, north and south entrances and exits of the cruciform-domed cathedral are richly ornamented.
The church is also rich in icons, which are mainly replicas of the works of the Hovnatanians.
Three cross-stones have been placed on the right and left sides of the church, dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, the martyred heroes of the April Four-Day and Artsakh 44-Day Wars.
Women’s and youth unions, as well the “Shoghakat” Sunday school operate within the church community.
During the summer period, a spiritual backyard camp is organized.
One day a week, a Bible study is held at the church.
Divine Liturgy is celebrated in the church every Sunday and on holidays, as well as morning, noon, and evening services are held every day.
The feast -day of the Holy Evangelists is proclaimed as a day of pilgrimage of the church.