Holy Mother of God Cathedral, Stepanakert
Church in Stepanakert, Azerbaijan
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Holy Mother of God Cathedral (Armenian: Սուրբ Աստվածամոր Հովանու մայր տաճար, romanized: Surb Astvatsamor Hovanu Mayr Tachar; Azerbaijani: Müqəddəs Məryəm Ana kilsəsi), also known as Surb Astvatsamor Hovanu Cathedral, was a church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, located in the city of Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan. A 4-meter (13 foot) statue of King Vachagan III was planned[needs update] to be placed on a 2-meter (6 foot) pedestal near the church.[1][2] The church – under construction for 12 years – was consecrated on 7 April 2019.[3]
| Holy Mother of God Cathedral | |
|---|---|
Սուրբ Աստվածամոր Հովանու մայր տաճար | |
The church after completion in 2019 | |
  Location within Azerbaijan | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Armenian Apostolic Church |
| Rite | Armenian |
| Status | Destroyed |
| Location | |
| Location | Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan |
| Coordinates | 39°48′46″N 46°44′56″E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Cathedral |
| Style | Armenian |
| Groundbreaking | 2006 |
| Completed | 2019 |
| Demolished | April 2026 |
History
The cathedral became a bomb shelter during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, with civilians taking refuge in the basement of the cathedral from Azerbaijan's bombardment of Stepanakert.[4]
The last liturgy was served in the cathedral on 1 October 2023 before the entire Armenian population had fled the city and Azerbaijan had taken control.[5]
The cathedral was demolished by Azerbaijan in April 2026, before Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.[6]
Gallery
The cathedral under construction in 2018
