St. Gregory the Illuminator's Church, Baku
Encyclopedia
St. Gregory the Illuminator's Church is a former Armenian Apostolic
church in downtown Baku
, Azerbaijan
. It was built in 1887 and survived through the radical atheist age of Sovietization
, and the conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan
over Nagorno-Karabakh
in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Unlike many places of worship that were subject to demolition throughout the Soviet Union
in the 1920s and the 1930s, St. Gregory the Illuminator's Church was the only Armenian church that was not demolished. In 1990, during the exodus and deportation of the entire Armenian population from Azerbaijan (as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict), the church was closed down and damaged, and is no longer open to the public.
From 1990 until 2002, its future status remained undetermined. In 2002, the church building underwent renovation and the final decision was made, that its cease of existence as a church is permanent, and the building was taken over by the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan to be used as one of its libraries. According to the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan which now owns the building, the former Armenian Church is not intended to be a place of worship again and the cross was removed from the dome of the church. The repair works were carried out for this purpose. And the library of the former church consisting of 5,000 books and manuscripts which has been preserved, was transformed into the the archive department of the Department of Administration Affairs of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan.
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
church in downtown Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
. It was built in 1887 and survived through the radical atheist age of Sovietization
Sovietization
Sovietization is term that may be used with two distinct meanings:*the adoption of a political system based on the model of soviets .*the adoption of a way of life and mentality modelled after the Soviet Union....
, and the conflict between Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
and Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
over Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, lying between Lower Karabakh and Zangezur and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains...
in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Unlike many places of worship that were subject to demolition throughout the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in the 1920s and the 1930s, St. Gregory the Illuminator's Church was the only Armenian church that was not demolished. In 1990, during the exodus and deportation of the entire Armenian population from Azerbaijan (as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict), the church was closed down and damaged, and is no longer open to the public.
From 1990 until 2002, its future status remained undetermined. In 2002, the church building underwent renovation and the final decision was made, that its cease of existence as a church is permanent, and the building was taken over by the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan to be used as one of its libraries. According to the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan which now owns the building, the former Armenian Church is not intended to be a place of worship again and the cross was removed from the dome of the church. The repair works were carried out for this purpose. And the library of the former church consisting of 5,000 books and manuscripts which has been preserved, was transformed into the the archive department of the Department of Administration Affairs of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan.