Artifacts Unearthed at Controversial Church Construction Site

21/4/2011

Shards of pottery have been unearthed at the controversial religious complex now being built at the St. Katoghike chapel located in downtown Yerevan.

The discovery was made on April 7 during a site inspection conducted by specialist from the Ministry of Culture’s Agency for the Preservation of Historical and Cultural Monuments and the National Academy of Sciences’ Antiquities and Ethnographic Department.

After research is conducted on the artifacts, including stones discovered from the original St. Astvatzatzin Church, dating back to the 13 century, they will be transferred to the Yerevan History Museum and eventually exhibited.

On July 4, 2009, a ground blessing service was conducted by Catholicos Karekin II for the construction of the St. Anna Church and Complex nearby St. Katoghike church. The complex will also serve as the Yerevan residence of the Catholicos.

The church and the pontifical residence are being financed by Hrair and Anna Hovnanian of the United States; thus the unique name for the new church.

Garik Chilingaryan, Director of Chilingaryan Design Construction, the firm who won the contracting bid for the complex says that the project has passed all the requirements put forth by the Urban Planning Department and the Cultural Preservation Committee.

Many have argued that the grandiose project in the center of Yerevan is superfluous and that the money could have been better spent elsewhere.

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