St. Sargis Church :: ARTSAKH HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

St. Sargis Church

Azerbaijan / Northern Artsakh / Gandzak / Gandzak / Norashen

Location

St. Sargis Church was located in the territory of an Armenian cemetery extending at the edge of Norashen Quarter. It represented a simple earthen building with the date of its foundation unknown.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 54-55.

Historical Introduction
1881 y․

As attested by some records of 1881, St. Sargis was regarded as a pilgrimage site.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 6, file 66.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 55.

Description
1890 y․

By 1890 the church had been reduced “...to a state of dilapidation.”

“Nor-Dar,” 1890, No. 116, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 55.

Priors
1904 y․

In 1904 Priest Anania Shirakuny was appointed Father Superior in the sanctuary.

“Ararat,” 1904, p. 738.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 55.

Description
1905 y․

The Armeno-Turkish fights of 1905 to 1906 left St. Sargis in ruins, and it was Gandzak inhabitant Nikoghayos Ghukassiants who initiated its renovation. Its consecration took place on 4 June 1917, that providing “...Armenian believers with a chance not to forget their pilgrimage sites.” Every year “on Fast Friday all the Armenian girls and women of the city took pokhind with them and visited it to kiss his image on the icons, light candles and pray for the realizaion of their wishes and dreams...”

National Archives of Armenia, fund 57, list 2, file 2018, p. 1.
Also known as 'pokhindz,' i.e. a meal made of a special sort of flour received from fried wheat. “Meghu Hayastani,” 1874, No. 19, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 55.

In the Soviet years, St. Sargis Church turned into a House of Peoples’ Friendship situated in the 9th lane of the city.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 55.

Type Photo
View Partial view
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Gerezmanatan St. Sargis