HIMA Initiative urges to stop demolition of Katoghike Church
HIMA (Now) Youth Initiative has launched a campaign on Facebook social utility urging that the mutilation and desecration of a church in Yerevan be stopped immediately.
"The future of St. Astvatsatsin (Katoghike), a church located in the centre of the capital [at the intersection of Abovyan and Sayat-Nova streets], which survived numerous earthquakes and the Soviet-era mincing machine is endangered. Attempts are being made to distort this historical building constructed in the 13th century. A new huge church and the residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians are being constructed on the consecrated soil, nearby St. Katoghike Church. The large-scale construction casts a shadow on St. Katoghike and its environs. We call for the suspension of the construction work," said a statement of the initiative.
The construction of St. Anna's Church, which will complete a church complex of St. Katoghike, and the residence of Catholicos of All Armenians, started on April 1, 2011.
Chilingaryan Design Construction Company, which deals with construction of St. Anna spiritual complex, yesterday reacted to social criticism over the church complex.
"The construction of the spiritual complex is agreed with the State Department of Urban Development and Agency for Monuments Protection. All peculiarities typical for construction works in such territories have been considered. Besides, excavations were carried in the territory during the construction," said Garik Chilingaryan, Director General of Chilingaryan Design Construction.
The three-storey residence of Catholicos of All Armenians is planned to be completed in two years.
