St. Hovhannes-Mkrtich Church

source: viparmenia.com

St. Hovhannes-Mkrtich Church was built in 1710, on the site of the medieval church destroyed by the earthquake. The expenditure for its construction took over a wealthy citizen of Yerevan Melik Agamal. St. Hovhannes-Mkrtich as many other churches of the late Middle Ages, relates to the type of three-nave basilica with a praying room, the main altar and two sacristies on the east side. Architect, Rafael Israelian, offered a plan on the substantial reconstruction of the church in 1979. In the 1980s the son of Rafael Israyelyan, architect Areg Israelian, continued his father`s work, and the church was completely reconstructed. There was built a dome, the exterior walls were covered with travertine. Great work has been done on the restoration of the interior. On the western side was built a gallery for the choir, the main altar was decorated with bas-reliefs, was fully completed the construction of the bell tower. There is a scientific and cultural center, Kozerni, functioning under the church, where are taught modern and ancient Armenian languages (Grabar), foreign languages (English, French, German), history of Armenia and the Armenian Apostolic Church.