Diocese of Aragatsotn ( hy, Արագածոտնի թեմ ''Aragatsotni t'em''), is a diocese of the

Armenian Apostolic Church , native_name_lang = hy , icon = Armenian Apostolic Church logo.svg , icon_width = 100px , icon_alt = , image = Էջմիածնի_Մայր_Տաճար.jpg , imagewidth = 250px , a ...

covering the

Aragatsotn Province Aragatsotn ( hy, Արագածոտն, ) is a province ('' marz'') of Armenia. It is located in the western part of the country. The capital and largest city of the province is the town of Ashtarak. The Statistical Committee of Armenia reported ...

Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...

. The name is derived from the historic Aragatsotn canton of

Ayrarat Ayrarat () was the central province of the ancient kingdom Armenia, located in the plain of the upper Aras River. Most of the historical capitals of Armenia were located in this province, including Armavir, Yervandashat, Artashat, Vagharshapat ...

province of Kingdom of Armenia. The diocese was officially founded on May 30, 1996, by Catholicos

Karekin I Karekin I ( Armenian: ) (August 27, 1932 – June 29, 1999) served as the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1994 and 1999. Previously, he served as the Catholicos of Cilicia from 1983 to 1994 as Karekin II ( Armenian: ). ...

. The diocesan headquarters are located in the provincial capital

Ashtarak Ashtarak (Armenian language, Armenian: ), is a town and urban municipal community in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia, located on the left bank of Kasagh River along the gorge, northwest of the capital Yerevan. It is the administrative centre of ...

, while the cathedral of the diocese is the

Saint Mesrop Mashtots Church Saint Mesrop Mashtots Church ( hy, Սուրբ Մեսրոպ Մաշտոց եկեղեցի) is an Armenian Apostolic church in Oshakan that contains the grave of Mesrop Mashtots, the inventor of the Armenian alphabet. It is one of Armenia's better kno ...

in the nearby village of

Oshakan Oshakan ( hy, Օշական) is a major village in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia located 8 kilometers southwest from Ashtarak. It is well known to historians and pilgrims of the Armenian Apostolic Church as the site of the grave of Mesrop Mas ...

. Bishop Mkrtich Broshyan is currently the primate of the diocese, serving since 2009.

History

Historically, the territory of modern-day Aragatsotn has been regulated by the

Araratian Pontifical Diocese Araratian Pontifical Diocese ( hy, Արարատյան Հայրապետական թեմ ''Araratyan Hayrapetakan t'em'') is the largest diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church and one of the oldest dioceses in the world, covering the city of Yereva ...

and the

Diocese of Shirak Diocese of Shirak ( hy, Շիրակի թեմ ''Shiraki t'em''), is one of the dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church covering the northern, central and south-western parts of the Shirak Province of Armenia. It almost covers 4/5th of the province ...

. The towns of

and

Aparan Aparan (Armenian: ), is a town and urban municipal community in Armenia, located in the Aragatsotn Province, about 50 kilometers northwest of the capital Yerevan. As of the 2011 census, the population of the town was 6,451. As per the 2016 offic ...

along with their villages were under the jurisdiction of the Araratian diocese, while the town of

Talin Talin may refer to: Places * Talin, Armenia, a city * Tálín, a municipality and village in the Czech Republic *Tallinn, capital of Estonia * Talin, Iran, a village in West Azerbaijan Province *Talin, Syria, a village in Tartus Governorate Other ...

and the surrounding areas were under the jurisdiction of Shirak diocese. After the independence from the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...

, Armenia has been divided into provinces based on the territorial administration reform of 1995. During the following year, the Diocese of Aragatsotn was officially founded upon a ''

kontakion The kontakion (Greek , plural , ''kontakia'') is a form of hymn performed in the Orthodox and the Eastern Catholic liturgical traditions. The kontakion originated in the Byzantine Empire around the 6th century and is closely associated with Sain ...

'' issued by Catholicos

on May 30, 1996. The

in Oshakan has served as the seat of the diocese since the formation of the diocese. Currently, the Aragatsotn diocese has 29 churches and 9 chapels under its jurisdiction.

Primates

*Bishop Navasard Kchoyan 1996-1999 *Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan 1999-2002 *Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan 2002-2003 *Archimendrite Torgom Tonikyan 2003-2007 *Archimendrite Grigor Khachatryan 2007-2009 *Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan 2009-present

Active churches

Here is the list of churches, monasteries and chapels functioning under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Aragatsotn, along with their location and year of consecration:

Churches

* Kasagh Basilica of the Holy Cross,

, 4th-5th centuries * Church of Saint John,

Mastara Mastara ( hy, Մաստարա) is a village in the Talin Municipality of the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. The 5th-century Armenian Church of S. Hovhannes is situated in the northeastern half of the village, while the church of S. Stepanos Na ...

, 5th century *

Karmravor Church Karmravor ( hy, Կարմրավոր եկեղեցի; meaning "reddish" because of the color of its dome), also known as the ''Church of Holy Mother of God'' (Սուրբ Աստվածածին, ''Surb Astvatsatsin'') is a 7th-century Armenian Apostolic ...

, 7th century *Saint Stephen Church, Kosh, 7th century * Surp Hovhannes Church,

Byurakan Byurakan ( hy, Բյուրական), is a major village in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia, located on the slope of Mount Aragats. The village is home to several historical sites including the 7th-century Artavazik Church, the 10th-century bas ...

, 10th *Church of the Holy Mother of God,

Otevan Otevan ( hy, Օթևան) is a village in the Metsadzor Municipality of the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. The village is home to a 12th-century ruined Armenian church as well as the ruins of a fortress and is mostly populated by Yezidis. See ...

, 11th century *Church of the Holy Mother of God,

Ashnak Ashnak ( hy, Աշնակ) is a village in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. The village is known from the 5th century, but was relocated to its present site in 1830. The town's environs include the ruins of a 10th-century chapel, a 5th-century c ...

, 11th century, rebuilt in 2013 * Saint Marianeh Church, Ashtarak, 1271 *Saint Gregory Church,

Parpi Parpi ( hy, Փարպի) is a village in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. It is home to the 5th-century Tsiranavor Church, with 7th- and 10th-century modifications. There is also S. Grigor or S. Grigor Lusavorich (''Gregory the Illuminator'') Ch ...

, 13th century * Saint Sarkis Church, Ashtarak, 17th century * Surp Astvatsatsin Church, Karbi, 1693 *

, 1879 *Surp Hovhannes Church, Melikgyugh, 1891 *Church of the Holy Mother of God, Aparan, 19th century *Saint George's Church,

, 19th century *Saint Gregory Church, Kosh, 19th century *Akunk Church,

Akunk Akunk ( hy, Ակունք) is a village in the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia. History The village was founded on the site of a Bronze Age settlement and to the west of Akunk, there is a cyclopean masonry, cyclopean fort, ''Klor Dar'', dating ...

, 19th century *Church of the Holy Mother of God, Kuchak, 1900 *Church of the Holy Mother of God,

Nor Yedesia Nor Yedesia ( hy, Նոր Եդեսիա) is a village in the Ashtarak Municipality of the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. Nor Yedesia was a former sovkhoz A sovkhoz ( rus, совхо́з, p=sɐfˈxos, a=ru-sovkhoz.ogg, abbreviated from ''с� ...

, 1999 *Surp Stepanos Church,

Chknagh Chknagh ( hy, Չքնաղ, also Romanized as Chqnagh, Chknakh, and Chknag; formerly, Samadarvish) is a town in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. See also *Aragatsotn Province Aragatsotn ( hy, Արագածոտն, ) is a province ('' marz'' ...

, 2004 *Church of Saint Gregory of Narek,

Ghazaravan Ghazaravan ( hy, Ղազարավան) is a village in the Ashtarak Municipality of the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Wes ...

, completed in 2005 but not yet consecrated *Surp Nshan Church, Berkarat, 2011 File:Ապարանի Սուրբ Խաչ.jpg, Kasagh Basilica of the Holy Cross, Aparan, 4th-5th centuries File:Մաստարայի Սուրբ Հովհաննես եկեղեցին.jpg, Church of Saint John, Mastara, 5th century File:Karmravor Corner1.jpg, Karmravor Church, Ashtarak, 7th century File:Kosh S. Stepanos.jpg, Saint Stephen Church, Kosh, 7th century File:Բյուրականի Սբ. Հովհաննես (3).JPG, Surp Hovhannes Church, Byurakan, 10th century File:Եկեղեցի 10 դ. Օթևան 02.jpg, Church of the Holy Mother of God, Otevan, 11th century File:S Astvacacin Ashnak 2015 aug pic 01.JPG, Church of the Holy Mother of God, Ashnak, 11th century, rebuilt in 2013 File:Ashtarak S. Mariane.jpg, Saint Marianeh Church, Ashtarak, 1271 File:Փարպիի Ս. Գրիգոր Լուսավորիչ3.JPG, Saint Gregory Church, Parpi, 13th century File:S. Sargis Church of Ashtarak.JPG, Saint Sarkis Church, Ashtarak, 17th century File:Եկեղեցի Սբ. Աստվածածին, Կարբի, ArmAg.JPG, Surp Astvatsatsin Church, Karbi, 1693 File:Mesrop Mashtots Church, Oshakan4.jpg, Saint Mesrop Mashtots Cathedral, Oshakan, 1879 File:ԵԿԵՂԵՑԻ Ս. Հովհաննես.jpg, Surp Hovhannes Church, Melikgyugh, 1891 File:Aparan Surb Astvatsatsin church1.JPG, Church of the Holy Mother of God, Aparan, 19th century File:Talin,center-church.jpg, Saint George's Church, Talin, 19th century File:Kosh 29.JPG, Saint Gregory Church, Kosh, 19th century File:Եկեղեցի Սբ. Աստվածածին, Քուչակ, ArmAg (7).JPG, Church of the Holy Mother of God, Kuchak, 1900

Monasteries

Hovhannavank Hovhannavank ( hy, Հովհաննավանք) is a medieval monastery located in the village of Ohanavan in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. The monastery stands on the edge of the Kasagh River canyon, and its territory is adjacent to the vill ...

Monastery,

Ohanavan Ohanavan ( hy, Օհանավան, also Romanized as Oganavan) is a town in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. Ohanavan was resettled in 1828 by emigrants from Muş. On a nearby escarpment sits the 13th-century Hovhannavank Monastery. Both the tow ...

, 1216 *

Saghmosavank The Saghmosavank ( hy, Սաղմոսավանք, lit. "monastery of the Psalms") is a 13th-century Armenian monastic complex located in the village of Saghmosavan in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. Like the Hovhannavank monastery which is five ...

Monastery,

Saghmosavan Saghmosavan ( hy, Սաղմոսավան, also Romanized as Sagmosavan) is a town in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. The town is the site of the Saghmosavank Monastery (the "Monastery of Psalms") with Saint Sion church, built in 1215. Popul ...

, 1221 *

Tegher Monastery Tegher Monastery ( hy, Տեղեր or Տեղերի Վանք; also Tegheri Vank) is an early 13th-century Armenian monastery and church located on the southeastern slopes of Mount Aragats near the modern village of Tegher, Armenia, Tegher, and acro ...

near Tegher, 13th century * Saint Gevork Monastery,

Mughni Mughni ( hy, Մուղնի) is a village in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. It is located just to the north of Ashtarak town and belongs to its municipality. Until the Russian conquest, it was the southernmost town in the district of Aparan. M ...

, 14th century File:Hovanavank nuages.JPG, Hovhannavank Monastery, Ohannavan, 1216 File:Saghmosavank by Armenak Baghdasaryan photo.jpg, Saghmosavank Monastery, Saghmosavan, 1221 File:Tegher Southeast.JPG, Tegher Monastery near Tegher, 13th century File:Mughni Monastery.jpg, Saint Gevork Monastery, Mughni, 14th century

Chapels

* Tukh Manuk Shrine, Oshakan, 12-13th centuries *Tukh Manuk Chapel, Mastara, 13th century *Saint Gregory Chapel, Oshakan, 13th century *Saint Thaddeus Chapel, Oshakan, 13th century *Kiraknamut Chapel,

Antarut Antarut ( hy, Անտառուտ; until 1949, Inaklu)John Brady Kiesling, Raffi Kojian (2001). ''Rediscovering Armenia An Archaeological/touristic Gazetteer and Map Set for the Historical Monuments of Armenia''. Yerevan: Tigran Mets; p. 15 is a town ...

, 13th century *Saint Gregory Chapel, Mastara, 17th century *Surp Narek Chapel, Chknagh, 1830s, rebuilt in 2003 *Chapel of Virgin Sandukht, Talin, 19th century *Surp Minas Chapel, Mastara, 19th century *Chapel of Saints Mary and Elisabeth,

Arayi Arayi ( hy, Արայի); formerly known as Bazarjik and Ara, is a village in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. It is home to a ruined caravanserai dating back to 1213. See also *Aragatsotn Province Aragatsotn ( hy, Արագածոտն, ) ...

, 2002 *Holy Mother of God Chapel, Yernjatap, 2007 *Holy Mother of God Chapel, Agarak, 2008 *Holy Trinity Altar of Hope, Aparan, 2012 File:Tukh Manuk Shrine.JPG, Tukh Manuk Shrine, Oshakan, 12-13th centuries File:Մաստարայի Թուխ Մանուկ մատուռը.jpg, Tukh Manuk Chapel, Mastara, 13th century File:Oshakan Shrine of Saint Grigor.JPG, Saint Gregory Chapel, Oshakan, 13th century File:Օշական ՄԱՏՈՒՌ ԹԱԴԵՎՈՍ ԱՌԱՔՅԱԼ27-1.JPG, Saint Thaddeus Chapel, Oshakan, 13th century File:Անտառուտ «ԿԻՐԱԿՆԱՄՈՒՏ» ՄԱՏՈՒՌ3-1.JPG, Kiraknamut Chapel, Antarut, 13th century File:Մատուռ Սբ. Գրիգոր, Մաստարա (1).JPG, Saint Gregory Chapel, Mastara, 17th century File:Թալին ՄԱՏՈՒՌ «ՍԱՆԴՈՒԽՏ ԿՈՒ3Ս»9-3.JPG, Chapel of Virgin Sandukht, Talin, 19th century File:Մատուռ Սբ. Մինաս, Մաստարա (5).JPG, Surp Minas Chapel, Mastara, 19th century File:Ապարանի խաչը և խորանը.jpg, Holy Trinity Altar of Hope, Aparan, 2012

Inactive/ruined churches and monasteries

This is an incomplete list of inactive or ruined churches and monasteries in the territory regulated by the Diocese of Aragatsotn: *Saints Paul and Peter Church,

Zovuni Zovuni ( hy, Զովունի), is a major village in the Kotayk Province of Armenia, located just north of the capital Yerevan. As of the 2019 census, the population of the village is 6251.Jrambar Jrambar ( hy, Ջրամբար), is a small village in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. The local economy is based on the nearby Aparan dam and reservoir, which supplies the capital Yerevan with drinking water. Prior to the construction of the da ...

, 4th-5th centuries *Astvatsenkal Monastery near

Hartavan Hartavan ( hy, Հարթավան, also Romanized as Hart’avan and Artavan; formerly, Karakilisa and Ghara-Kilisa) is a town in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. In Hartavan was born Rafik Khachatryan (1937–1993). See also *Aragatsotn Prov ...

, 4th-5th centuries, *Lusagyugh Red Monastery, Lusagyugh, 5th century *Surp Stepanos Church, Chknagh, 5th century *Holy Saviour's Church of Shenik, Mastara, 5th century * Tsiranavor Church, Ashtarak, 5th century *Tsiranavor Church, Parpi, 5th century *Arshakuni Church of Aghdzk,

Aghdzk Aghdzk ( hy, Աղձք, formerly, ''Akhs'', ''Akis'' and ''Dzorap'' - hy, Ձորափ) is a village on the slopes of Mount Aragats in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. It is home to the Arshakid Mausoleum, a large grave monument complex and bas ...

, 5th century *Holy Mother of God Church of Shenik, Mastara, 6th century *

Aruchavank Aruchavank or the Cathedral of Aruch (; also Surb Grigor) is situated on a rocky plateau at the western foot of Mount Aragats in the village of Aruch in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. According to wall inscriptions on the east wall and manusc ...

Monastery,

Aruch Aruch ( hy, Արուճ; until 1970, TalishJohn Brady Kiesling, Raffi Kojian (2001). ''Rediscovering Armenia An Archaeological/touristic Gazetteer and Map Set for the Historical Monuments of Armenia''. Yerevan: Tigran Mets; p. 17), is a village in ...

, 660s *

Cathedral of Talin The Cathedral of Talin ( hy, Թալինի Կաթողիկե եկեղեցի) is a seventh-century Armenian cathedral located in the cemetery of Talin, in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. Talin Cathedral Architecture Talin's Katoghike Chur ...

, Talin, 7th century * Saint George's Church,

Garnahovit Garnahovit ( hy, Գառնահովիտ) is a village in the Talin Municipality of the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Weste ...

, 7th century *Targmanchats Church, Parpi, 7th century *Church of Kamsarakan Surp Astvatsatsin, Talin, 7th century * Saint Christopher Monastery, Dashtadem, 7th century *

Artavazik Church Artavazik Church ( hy, Արտավազիկ եկեղեցի) of the 7th century is located in a stone field one kilometer northeast just a little outside the village of Byurakan in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. The name of the church goes back ...

, Byurakan, 7th century * Surp Hovhannes Church,

Voskevaz Voskevaz ( hy, Ոսկեվազ; formerly, Kiziltamur and Ghzltamur) is a village in the Aragatsotn province of Armenia. Not far from the center of the village is the church of Surp Hovhannes, built between the 7th and 12th centuries. The village i ...

, 7th century * Saint Sarkis Monastery, Ushi, 7th century *Tukh Manuk Chapel, Lusagyugh, 7th century *Saint Zion Church, Oshakan, 7th century *Surp Astvatsatsin Basilica,

Verin Sasunik Verin Sasunik ( hy, Վերին Սասունիկ); formerly known as Gharajilar, is a village in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. It was depopulated in 1960 and resettled in 1989. See also *Aragatsotn Province Aragatsotn ( hy, Արագա ...

, 7th century * Yeghipatrush Church of the Holy Mother of God,

Yeghipatrush Yeghipatrush ( hy, Եղիպատրուշ), is a village in the Aparan Municipality of the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. During the Soviet period, the town was renamed in honor of Askanaz Mravyan Askanaz Harutyuni Mravyan ( hy, Ասքանազ Հ ...

, 10th century * Vahramashen Church of the Holy Mother of God, Byurakan, 1026 *Tukh Manuk Chapel, Kuchak, 12-13th centuries *Holy Mother of God Church, Yernjatap, 12th-13the centuries * Spitakavor Church, Ashtarak, 13th century *Surp Stepanos Nakhavka Church, Mastara, 17th century *Berkarat Church, Berkarat, 19th century *Holy Mother of God Church, Antarut, 19th century * Saint George's Church, Kosh, 19th century *Saint George's Church, Kuchak, 1891 File:Զովունի 03.jpg, Saints Paul and Peter Church, Zovuni near Jrambar, 4th-5th centuries File:Աստվածընկալ վանք, Հարթավան, ArmAg (6).JPG, Astvatsenkal Monastery near Hartavan, 4th-5th centuries, File:Red or Mkher Monastery 28.jpg, Lusagyugh Red Monastery, Lusagyugh, 5th century File:Mastara, Settlement Shenik, Surb Amenaprkich Church2.jpg, Holy Saviour's Church of Shenik, Mastara, 5th century File:Tsiranavor church of Ashtarak, front view.jpg, Tsiranavor Church, Ashtarak, 5th century File:Փարպիի Ծիրանավոր եկեղեցի14.JPG, Tsiranavor Church, Parpi, 5th century File:Դամբարան Արշակունյաց թագավորների 47.JPG, Arshakuni Church of Aghdzk,

, 5th century File:Շենիկի Սուրբ Աստվածածին3.jpg, Holy Mother of God Church of Shenik, Mastara, 6th century File:Swallows over Aruchavank.jpg, Aruchavank Monastery, Aruch, 660s File:Talin Cathedral.JPG, Cathedral of Talin, Talin, 7th century File:St. Gevorg church Garnahovit 03.JPG, Saint George's Church, Garnahovit, 7th century File:Փարպիի Թարգմանչաց եկեղեցի11.JPG, Targmanchats Church, Parpi, 7th century File:Talin Kamsarakan S. Astvatsatsin.JPG, Church of Kamsarakan Surp Astvatsatsin, Talin, 7th century File:Kristapori Vank 1.JPG, Saint Christopher Monastery, Dashtadem, 7th century File:Artavazik Church Front2.JPG, Artavazik Church, Byurakan, 7th century File:Voskevaz Church1.JPG, Surp Hovhannes Church, Voskevaz, 7th century File:Ushi Monastery.JPG, Saint Sarkis Monastery, Ushi, 7th century File:ՄԱՏՈՒՌ ԹՈՒԽ ՄԱՆՈՒԿ.jpg, Tukh Manuk Chapel, Lusagyugh, 7th century File:1եկեղեցի ս. Սիոն (Մանկանոց ).jpg, Saint Zion Church, Oshakan, 7th century File:Գյուղատեղի Սասունիկ 07.JPG, Surp Astvatsatsin Basilica, Verin Sasunik, 7th century File:Armenian Church in Yeghipatrush.JPG, Yeghipatrush Church of the Holy Mother of God, Yeghipatrush, 10th century File:S.Astvacacin 01.JPG, Vahramashen Church of the Holy Mother of God, Byurakan, 1026 File:Tsiranavor Ashtarak 1.jpg, Spitakavor Church, Ashtarak, 13th century File:Mastara, Surb Stepanos Nakhavka Church.jpg, Surp Stepanos Nakhavka Church, Mastara, 17th century File:Bergarat.jpg, Berkarat Church, Berkarat, 19th century File:Անտառուտ ԵԿԵՂԵՑԻ Ս. ԱՍՏՎԱԾԱԾԻՆ2-11.JPG, Holy Mother of God Church, Antarut, 19th century File:St.gveorkchurch.jpg, Saint George's Church, Kosh, 19th century File:ԵԿԵՂԵՑԻ Ս. ԳԵՎՈՐԳ.JPG, Saint George's Church, Kuchak, 1891

References

{{coord missing, Armenia

Aragatsotn Aragatsotn ( hy, Արագածոտն, ) is a province ('' marz'') of Armenia. It is located in the western part of the country. The capital and largest city of the province is the town of Ashtarak. The Statistical Committee of Armenia reported ...

Christianity in Armenia Aragatsotn Province Oriental Orthodox dioceses in Armenia