Ganchvor monastery | |
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Ganchvor Sourp Asdvadzadzin | |
Կանչուոր Սուրբ Աստուածածին | |
![]() Ganchvor Church | |
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Location | Famagusta |
Country | de jure Cyprus de facto Northern Cyprus |
Denomination | Armenian Apostolic |
Architecture | |
Style | Typical Armenian |
Completed | 1364 |
Ganchvor Sourp Asdvadzadzin (Armenian: Կանչուոր Սուրբ Աստուածածին) is the Armenian Apostolic church in Famagusta, Cyprus.
History
The church is located on the north-west side of the walled city of Famagusta, opposite the Carmelite church. It is a fortress-like building built in 1346 by Armenian refugees from Cilicia. It was built in a typical Armenian fashion, but with Cypriot masonry, and was part of an important monastic and cultural centre, where Saint Nerses Lampronatsi is said to have studied in the 12th century, suggesting the presence of an important theological institute.[1]
Unused since 1571, it was preserved by the Department of Antiquities in 1907 and on 7 March 1936 it was leased to the Armenian community of Famagusta for a period of 99 years. After repairs between 1937-1944, the first Liturgy and re-consecration took place on 14 January 1945 by Archimandrite Krikor Bahlavouni. It was partially burnt by Turkish-Cypriots on 8 March 1957.[citation needed] Afterwards, it was no longer used as a church.
During the 1963–1964 inter-communal violence, the area around it was taken over by TMT and then in August 1974 by the Turkish military, becoming part of the occupied area. Even after the partial lifting of movement restrictions by Northern Cyprus in 2003, it was still inaccessible, as it was located within a "military area". It is now accessible, since late 2005.[1][2]
After a restoration process by the UNDP-PFF was carried out between May 2017 and May 2018, its handover ceremony took place on 26 May 2018, together with the Carmelite church.
See also
References
- ^ a b Hadjilyra, Alexander-Michael (May 2009). "Book The Armenians of Cyprus" (PDF). Kalaydjian Foundation. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ^ Hadjilyra, Alexander-Michael (May 2009). "Booklet on the Armenians of Cyprus". Kalaydjian Foundation. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
35°07′39″N 33°56′11″E / 35.1274°N 33.9364°E
- Armenian Apostolic monasteries
- Christian monasteries established in the 1360s
- Armenian churches in Cyprus
- Buildings and structures in Famagusta
- Churches in Northern Cyprus
- Cypriot building and structure stubs
- European church stubs
- Middle Eastern church stubs
- Oriental Orthodox church stubs
- Armenian Apostolic Church stubs
- Christian monastery stubs