Description of the attraction
The Armenian Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator in the city of Baku is one of the main attractions of Baku. Initially, the temple belonged to the Armenian Apostolic Church.
The church was founded in 1863. The initiator of its construction was the head of the Shemakha diocese Daniel Shakhnazaryants. The temple was built with funds donated by Javada Melikov.
The building of the temple was erected on Kolyubakinskaya Square (today - Fountain Square). It was this place that was originally proposed for the construction of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, but the size of the area did not correspond to the proposed structure. Then the military governor M. P. Kolyubakin, ordered to allocate this plot of land for the construction of an Armenian church. The author of this project for the building of the temple was the architect of the city of Baku K. K. Gippius.
The consecration of the temple took place in 1869, while its construction was completed only in 1871. Three years later, a parish school, a library and residential buildings were erected in the fence of the temple. In 1888, bells were installed on the church. After a while, a building was erected nearby, which housed the library. In 1918 the church was given the status of a cathedral.
The facade of the temple was decorated with a six-pointed "Star of David". Until 1988-1990, the church was the main place of prayer meetings for most of the Armenian community in Baku. In 1989, the temple was vandalized. All creeds were removed from him. In 1990, a fire broke out that severely damaged the church, after which it was abolished.
In 2001, the church was declared an architectural monument of local importance. In 2002, a library was founded on the basis of the temple. In 2011, restoration was carried out in the building of the Armenian church. Today, the building of the Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator is used as a book depository for the President of the country.
