| Ghazanchetsots Cathedral | |
|---|---|
 The cathedral in 2024 after a controversial restoration project undertaken by Azerbaijan | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Armenian Apostolic Church |
| Rite | Armenian |
| Year consecrated | 20 September 1888 18 June 1998 (reconsecration) |
| Status | Repaired (2024) |
| Location | |
| Location | 19 A. Ghazanchetsots Street,[1]Shusha,[2]Azerbaijan |
  Shown within Azerbaijan Show map of Azerbaijan Ghazanchetsots Cathedral (Karabakh Economic Region) Show map of Karabakh Economic Region | |
| Coordinates | 39°45′32″N46°44′52″E / 39.758819°N 46.747883°E /39.758819; 46.747883 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | Simon Ter-Hakobian(ts) |
| Style | Armenian |
| Groundbreaking | 1868 |
| Completed | 1887 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 34.7 metres (114 ft) |
| Width | 23 metres (75 ft) |
| Height (max) | 35 metres (115 ft) |
Holy Savior Cathedral (Armenian:Սուրբ Ամենափրկիչ մայր տաճար,Surb Amenap′rkich mayr tachar), commonly referred to asGhazanchetsots (Armenian:Ղազանչեցոց),[a] is anArmenian Apostolic cathedral inShusha inAzerbaijan. It is thecathedra of theDiocese of Artsakh of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Standing 35 metres (115 ft) high, Ghazanchetsots is one of the largest Armenian churches in the world. A landmark of Shusha and the Karabakh region,[4] and of Armenian cultural and religious identity,[5] it waslisted as a cultural and historical monument of the formerbreakawayRepublic of Artsakh.
Built between 1868 and 1887, the cathedral was consecrated in 1888. It was damaged during theMarch 1920 massacre of the city's Armenians—and the destruction of their half of the city—byAzerbaijanis and experienced a decades-long decline well into the Soviet period. During thefirst Nagorno-Karabakh War Azerbaijan used the cathedral as an armoury to store hundreds of missiles. The cathedral was extensively restored in the aftermath of theFirst World War and reconsecrated in 1998. During the2020 war, it was damaged by Azerbaijaniattacks.
In Azerbaijan, the cathedral is called "Gazanchy" (Azerbaijani:Qazançı) and several media outlets and also authorities have often denied its Armenian heritage, instead vaguely referring to it as "Christian"[6][7] or falsely labeling it a "Russian Orthodox" edifice.[8][9] Azerbaijan's "renovation" from 2021 to 2024, was met with criticism and concern by different bodies, due to Azerbaijan removing the canonical roof.[10]
According to historical records, a small basilica church stood on the present premises as early as 1722.[11] In the 19th century, following the conquest of theCaucasus by theRussian Empire, Shusha was one of the largest cities in the South Caucasus region, being larger and more prosperous than eitherBaku orYerevan, the current capitals of Azerbaijan and Armenia, respectively.[12] AlongsideTiflis, the city was a major center for Armenian cultural activity in the region.[13] According to Russian imperial sources, in 1886 the city had a mixedArmenian (57%) and Tatar (later known asAzerbaijani; 43%) population of almost 27,000.[14] The oldest section of the current cathedral, the bell tower, was built in 1858, and was financed by the Khandamiriants family.[11]
The construction of the church began in 1868 and was completed in 1887. Its name comes fromGhazanchi (present-day Qazançı), a village inNakhchivan, where the Khandamiriants family originated. Furthermore, the quarter where the church is located was also known by that name (Ղազանչեցոց թաղ,Ghazanchetsots t′agh) as it was populated by the descendants of migrants from Ghazanchi. The church was designed by Simon Ter-Hakobian(ts).[11] The church was consecrated on 20 September 1888[15][11] according to an inscription on the upper part of the southernportal.[16] The inscription reads:[17]
By the blessing and grace of almighty God this miraculous sacred cathedral is built at the expense and with the donations of the parish of the church of Amenaprkich Ghazanchetsots of the city of Shushi, the construction [was begun] in 1868 at the reign of the all-powerful emperor of all Russia Alexander II and the patriarchate of Gevorg IV and was completed in 1887 at the time of the coronation of the son of His Majesty the blessed emperor Alexander III and Catholicos Markar I, on 20 September 1888.
The majority of the Armenian population of Shusha wasmassacred or expelled in March 1920. The cathedral was damaged and gradually declined. After the region came under Soviet control because of state atheist policies, it was eventually closed down in 1930[15][18] and was turned into a granary in the 1940s. Its dome and part of the walls surrounding it were destroyed in the 1950s. It was then looted, and its stones were used to build several upscale houses in the Azerbaijani part of the city.[17] By the 1970s the cathedral "looked like it [had] survived heavy shelling." After public pressure, Soviet and Azerbaijani authorities granted permission for the launch of a restoration project of the cathedral in the 1980s.[17] The restoration began in 1981 and continued until 1988 and was supervised by Volodya Babayan.[19][15][18] By 1987 only two of the four stone statues of angels on the bell tower had survived.[20]
Shusha's Armenian minority wasexpelled from the city after theNagorno-Karabakh conflict began in February 1988.[21] The cathedral was turned into an armory by Azerbaijan.[19] According to Armenian political analyst Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan, the cathedral was set on fire three times between 1988 and 1991 using car tires.[22] Azerbaijanis dismantled the stone statues of angels on the bell tower in 1989.[23] They reportedly sold off its bronze bell, which was later found in a market inDonetsk, Ukraine and was bought by an Armenian officer for three million rubles and returned to Armenia.[24] Prior to thefall of Shushi to the Armenians, Azerbaijani forces stored hundreds of boxes ofBM-21 Grad missiles as the cathedral was safe from potential Armenian bombardment.[25][26][27] Shusha was used as a base for theshelling ofStepanakert, the largest city of Karabakh, with Grad launchers for several months.[28][29] Armenian volunteers, including noted activistIgor Muradyan, carried the wooden boxes of artillery and rocket shells out of the church immediately after thecapture of the city.[30][31] Theflag of Armenia was raised on top of the damaged dome by Armenian troops.[32] Melik-Shahnazaryan wrote that by the time of its capture "practically, only a stone skeleton had remained of the magnificent structure."[22] A foreign visitor noted that its "windows were missing, but the interior was in reasonable condition."[31]
On 23 August 1992, Azerbaijani bombers launched attacks against the church. However, no serious casualties were reported. Felix Corley suggested that the attempt was not of any military importance and "appeared to be a deliberate attempt to attack the Armenian heritage in Karabakh."[31]
Restoration of the cathedral began soon after its capture by Armenian forces. As of 1997, it was reportedly the only building being restored in Shushi.[33] Restoration works were conducted by Volodya Babayan and primarily funded by Andreas Roubian, an Armenianevangelical benefactor from New Jersey, who provided $110,000. Tens of thousands of dollars came from variousArmenian diaspora communities and wealthy individuals.[19][34] Cleanup and furnishing were completed in May 1998.[19] The cathedral was reconsecrated on 18 June 1998 on theFeast of the Transfiguration by ArchbishopPargev Martirosyan, the Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh.[35] The firstDivine Liturgy at the restored cathedral took place on July 19 with the attendance of Nagorno-Karabakh PresidentArkadi Ghukasyan and officials from Armenia. ArchbishopSebouh Chouldjian read a letter from CatholicosKarekin I,[35] who did not attend due to health problems.[36]
Yulia Antonyan suggested that its reconstruction was "perceived more as a cultural process aimed at a restoration of the Armenian cultural heritage, a spiritual and physical 'rebirth' of the Armenian nation" and came to symbolize the rebirth of Shushi.[37] It now "towers, immaculate once more, above the ruined town," wrote de Waal in his 2003 bookBlack Garden.[38] Daniel Bardsley wrote in 2009 that the cathedral is now "one of the few pristine-looking buildings in the city."[39]
On 16 October 2008, amass wedding, sponsored byLevon Hayrapetyan [hy], a Russian-based businessman from Karabakh, took place in Nagorno-Karabakh. Around 700 couples got married on that day, 500 of whom married at Ghazanchetsots and 200 atGandzasar monastery.[40][41][42]
On 14 April 2016, Catholicos of All ArmeniansKarekin II and Catholicos of TheHoly See of CiliciaAram I delivered a prayer for peace and for the safety of Nagorno-Karabakh. It came days afterclashes between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, which were the deadliest since the ceasefire of 1994,[43][44][45] until the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
On 6 April 2017,Serj Tankian, the lead singer of the rock bandSystem of a Down performed the Christian liturgical prayer "Lord, have mercy" (Armenian:Տէր, ողորմեա,Ter voghormia), in Armenian, at the cathedral.[46][47]
On 8 October 2020, the cathedral was struck twice by Azerbaijan,[48][49][50][51] which resulted in the collapse of part of the roof.[52] A Russian journalist was seriously injured by the second strike,[53] while two others were wounded.[54]Human Rights Watch (HRW) noted that the two attacks "suggest that the church, a civilian object with cultural significance, was an intentional target despite the absence of evidence that it was used for military purposes."[48] HRW collected remnants of the weapon used against the church, which "corroborate the use ofguided munitions."[48] An investigation byHetq concluded that the church was hit with 300 mm rockets, probably that of aTRG-300 Tiger multiple rocket launcher.[55]
Between the shelling of the church and the capture of the town by Azerbaijan, the church continued to attract Armenians. On October 12cellist Sevak Avanesyan playedKrunk (The Crane) byKomitas inside the partially ruined church.[56] On October 24 a couple fromMartuni got married at the church.[57] On November 6, 2020 ArchbishopBagrat Galstanyan of Tavush delivered a prayer at the church.[58]
Armenia's Foreign Ministry issued an official statement describing it as "another crime of the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan... this action fully fits into its policy of Armenophobia developed for decades. Azerbaijan, which has completely annihilated the Armenian cultural heritage in Nakhchivan and in other parts of the historical homeland of the Armenian people, now throughout the ongoing military aggression against Artsakh is trying to deprive Armenians of Artsakh of their homeland and historical memory."[59]
TheArmenian Apostolic Church condemned the attack and described it as "an outgrowth of extreme religious intolerance."[60]
Armenia's first foreign ministerRaffi Hovannisian wrote in theNew York Post that for Armenians, "an attack like the one on the Holy Savior Cathedral isn’t just a matter of urgent current affairs. No, the swirling dust kicked up by violence against a Christian house of worship can take back even the most modern-minded Armenian more than a century — to the year 1915," referring to theArmenian genocide.[61]
Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry officially denied it was behind the attack,[62] while itsstate news agency claimed the missiles came from the Armenian side.[63] Azerbaijan's PresidentIlham Aliyev later stated: "We need to investigate this issue... We have doubts that could have been done by Armenians in order to blame us. If it was done by Azerbaijani military units, that was a mistake, and we don’t have any historical or religious targets..."[64] In an interview withBBC, Aliyev stated: "the images of that church which I have seen, show that it is very minor damage. And this damage can be repaired within maximum two weeks."[65] Almost two years after the war, Aliyev's advisorHikmet Hajiyev said that the church "sustainedcollateral damage" during the war.[66]
TheUS Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) stated that they were "dismayed to learn that the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral was seriously damaged by fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh" and called for the safeguarding of places of worship and religious sites, particularly during the violent conflict.[67] US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious FreedomSam Brownback stated on Twitter: "I am deeply saddened by the images of damage to the Holy Savior Cathedral (St. Ghazanchetsots). Important religious and cultural sites must be protected."[68]
The attack was condemned by US RepresentativeFrank Pallone[69][54] and German MPAlbert Weiler,[70] among others.
A statement released by theInternational Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), signed byIsrael Charny,Yair Auron,Matthias Bjørnlund,Tessa Hofmann and others argued that the strikes on the church are "a part of policy of the cultural genocide that the Azerbaijani government has been implementing over the past 30 years by systematically destroying the Armenian historical heritage."[71]
In December 2020Human Rights Watch's Europe and Central Asia director Hugh Williamson called on Azerbaijan to investigate the attacks. "It has been over a month since Azerbaijan has retaken control of Shushi and the government needs to waste no time in investigating the attacks and holding those responsible to account. Attacks such as these serve no military purpose and all parties should ensure these kinds of attacks are punished and otherwise prevented," he said.[48]
The town of Shusha wascaptured by Azerbaijani forces by November 9, 2020, when atrilateral armistice agreement was reached between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia. On November 14, a photo emerged online showing graffiti on the cathedral's wall. Armenia's Ministry of Culture released a statement claiming that there was already evidence of vandalism against the cathedral.[72] The Armenian Church described the vandalism asdesecration and strongly condemned it as an "expression of obvious vandalism and intolerance."[73]
After the war, the Azerbaijani government announced a renovation of the cathedral in the frame of large-scale reconstruction work in Shusha. The renovation project attracted much attention and criticism, with many Armenians alleging that Azerbaijan was seeking to blot out the Armenian identity of the church by altering or obscuring its basic features and design elements.[74] In May 2021, footage released byCivilNet showed the conical dome of the church had been removed and the church itself surrounded by ostensible scaffolding.[75] A report byCaucasian Knot quoted several Azerbaijani state officials who claimed that the renovation project aimed to restore the "original" appearance of the church, which, according to them, lacked the conical dome during Soviet times until it was added by the Armenians following Shushi's capture in 1992.[76] However, the conical dome of the church can be seen in photographs from over a century ago.[77][74]
TheUnited States Commission on International Religious Freedom andInternational Christian Concern expressed concern with the announced renovation.[10][74]
In June 2023 Azerbaijani Ambassador to the Holy See Ilgar Mukhtarov stated that the church, "misappropriated by Armenians, is currently regaining its original appearance."[78]
At a media forum in Shusha in July 2023, Aliyev stated: "We do not touch the historical heritage of the Armenian people. There is even an Armenian church here in Shusha. Anyone can go and have a look, not a single stone has been touched there. On the contrary, it is protected."[79]
The church's renovation by Azerbaijan was finished in 2024.[80]
.jpg)
The cathedral's church is a domed basilica with fourapsides.[81] It is 34.7 m (114 ft) long and 23 m (75 ft) wide.[16][b] Standing at a height of 35 m (115 ft),[16] it is one of the largest Armenian churches.[38][81][82] Its dome, with a metalconical roof, is 17 m (56 ft) tall.[17][35] ArchitectArtak Ghulyan criticized the proportions of the roof, restored by Volodya Babayan, as being unfaithful (too tall) to the original proportions.[83] The church has three identical entrances from the west, south and north. There are ornamental reliefs on the portals and windows.[17] The church's floor plan is an imitation of that ofEtchmiadzin Cathedral, Armenia's mother church.[15][82][84] The cathedral is seen as having combined both innovative techniques and well-established traditions of Armenian architecture.[84]
Both the church and the bell tower are built of whitelimestone.[15][38][85] The freestanding bell tower has three floors (levels) and contains two bells, the larger of which wascast inTula, Russia in 1857.[19] Four sculptures of angels blowing trumpets stand on the top of its first floor.[81]
The cathedral, along withGandzasar monastery, is a symbol of history and identity for the Armenians of Artsakh/Karabakh. NovelistZori Balayan noted that it was often referenced during the emergence of theKarabakh Movement.[32] It has become a symbol of the liberation of the city as perceived by Armenians[86] and a popular pilgrimage site for Armenians from Armenia and the diaspora.[87] CatholicosKarekin II called the cathedral a symbol of the Armenian liberation movement of Artsakh during a mass at the cathedral in 2016.[88] Furthermore, it is seen as a remnant of the 19th and early 20th century religious-cultural renaissance of the city.[89]
Numerous manuscripts used to be kept at the cathedral,[17] the earliest dated 1612.[11] The Right Arm ofGrigoris, the grandson ofGregory the Illuminator, was also kept at the cathedral.[19]
The cathedral is included in thelist of cultural and historical monuments of thebreakaway Republic of Artsakh[90] and thelist of cultural and historical monuments of the Republic of Azerbaijan.[91] In 2001, theShusha State Historical and Architectural Reserve, which includes Ghazanchetsots Cathedral,[1] was added to the Tentative List of UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites from Azerbaijan.[92]
p. 208: ...Qazançetsots kilsəsində... p. 216: ...Kazançetsots kilsəsi...
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)...Shusha, along with Tbilisi (Tiflis), was at one time one of the two main Armenian cities of the Transcaucasus...
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)view onlineԱրցախի թեմի առաջնորդանիստ Ղազանչեցոց Ս. Ամենափրկիչ մայր տաճարը (XIX դ.): Եկեղեցին գործել է մինչև 1930-ը, մասամբ նորոգվել 1981-1988-ին՝ մշեցի վերականգնող վարպետ Վ. Բաբայանի (ծ. 22.6.1937) ջանքերով: 1988-ին Շուշիի հայերին տեղահանելուց հետո ադրբեջանցիները ջարդել են զանգակատան հրեշտակների խորաքանդակները: 1998-ին ավարտվել է եկեղեցու զանգակատան նորոգումը և մեծ հանդիսությամբ օծվել հուլիսի 19-ին, որպես հայ առաքելական եկեղեցու Արցախի թեմի առաջնորդանիստ՝ Պարգև արքեպիսկոպոս Մարտիրոսյանի առաջնորդությամբ:
Только за период 1988-91 гг. в Шуши трижды поджигали, обкладывая автомобильными покрышками, шедевр армянской архитектуры XIX века, церковь Газанчецоц Христа Спасителя. От великолепного строения фактически остался лишь каменный остов.
...the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral, which the shrewd Azeris had been using as their main ammunition depot, sure that it was safe from Armenian gunners.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)Soldiers had taken the now empty boxes which had contained the GRAD missiles out of the church...
The only building being restored is the church of Gazanchetsots, Armenia's largest church.
Roubian, who is of Evangelical faith, became the benefactor of the Ghazanchetots Sourp Asdvadzadzin Cathedral of Shushi. He personally supervised and financed its reconstruction.
The reconstruction, or construction, of churches was perceived more as a cultural process aimed at a restoration of the Armenian cultural heritage, a spiritual and physical "rebirth" of the Armenian nation. Thus, among the first churches to be reconstructed were the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi (Karabakh) and the Amenaprkich (Lord Saviour) Church at Gyumri. Both churches were rebuilt to symbolize the rebirth of the cities, one of which devastated during the war...
The city's Ghazanchetsots Cathedral has been restored since the conflict ended and is now one of the few pristine-looking buildings in the city.
The couples were married in the churches of Gandzasar and Kazanchetsots in Shushi.
Five hundred and sixty couples ended up being married either at St. Ghazanchetsots church or the 13th century Gandzasar monastery, not far from Vank.
В ходе осенних боев 2020 года азербайджанские войска прицельно обстреливали собор Святого Христа Всеспасителя в Шуше
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)Thus when it was decided to construct the Cathedral of Our Savior, called Ghazanchetsots (one of the grandest churches in all of Armenia), in 1868–1888 in Shushi, it was to Etchmiadzin, the most important sanctuary for Armenians, that they looked for inspiration, at least for the plan.
Artsakh's architecture of the nineteenth century is distinguished by a merger of innovation and the tradition of grand national monuments of the past. One example is the Cathedral of the Holy Savior also known as Ghazanchetzotz (1868-1888). It stands in Artsakh's former capital of Shushi, and is among the largest Armenian churches ever erected. The cathedral's architectural forms were influenced by the designs of the ancient cathedral of St. Echmiadzin (4th-9th centuries), center of the Armenian Apostolic Church located to the west of Armenia's capital of Yerevan.
...the Tolkienesque Ghazanchetsots Cathedral, built of white limestone.
But it has withstood war, and it symbolizes the liberation of Shushi and our people.
The rebuilt Temple St. Kazanchetsots is a popular place of pilgrimage for tourists from Armenia and the Diaspora.
...ազատագրական մեր պայքարի խորհրդանիշը հանդիսացող Շուշիի Սուրբ Ամենափրկիչ Ղազանչեցոց եկեղեցում...
Between 1820 and 1930, Karabakh was a hub of vibrant religious and cultural life. [...] A remnant of this religious-cultural renaissance is the famous Cathedral of Our Saviour (1868-1887) in the Kazanchetsots neighborhood of Shushi (Lalayan 1988 and Ter Gasbarian 1993).
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
