Holy Mother of God Church of Vanadzor

The Holy Mother of God Church of Vanadzor was founded in 1831 through the initiative of the renowned centurion Piruman Yuzbash Tayirov, who, originally from Erzurum and a military officer of the Russian Empire, was highly respected among the local population. Due to a strong earthquake in 1826, the church in operation in Gharakilisa (the former name of Vanadzor) was destroyed, and Piruman used the stones from the old church to build a new one. The community of 3,000 immigrants from various parts of Western Armenia, especially Erzurum and Mush, played a significant role in increasing the local population and reviving spiritual life. The church is surrounded by a large cemetery where many prominent wealthy families and clergymen are buried, including the Abovians, the Gharagyozyans, the Jaghatsphanyans, and Father Khoren, Senior Priest Khanzadyan. Since 1836, the church has also served as a religious and educational center, becoming a gathering place for the community. In the 20th century, during the Soviet era, when many churches and religious structures were heavily repressed, the Holy Mother of God Church was one of the few in the Lori region that remained active. In the 1960s, extensive renovation was carried out — the Holy Altar was restored, the narthex was constructed, and the iconography of the Holy Table was completed. In recent years, thanks to benefactors, especially businessman Armen Mkhoian, the church has been further renovated and enriched with chapels, icons, and a memorial monument dedicated to the innocent victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.