Parakar ( hy, Փարաքար); formerly known as ''Shirabad'', is a major village in the

Armavir Province Armavir ( hy, wikt:Արմավիր, Արմավիր, ), is a administrative divisions of Armenia, province (''marz'') in the western part of Armenia. Located in the Ararat plain dominated by Mount Ararat from the south and Mount Aragats from the n ...

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 ...

. According to the 2010 official estimate, the population of Parakar is 9,297 (including

Tairov Tairov ( hy, Թաիրով), is a village in the Armavir Province of Armenia. Administratively it is subordinate to the community of Parakar and is located 1km east to Parakar. Tairov was founded in 1921. See also *Armavir Province Armavi ...

). The village is notable for its gypsum mine. The

Zvartnots International Airport Zvartnots International Airport ( hy, Զվարթնոց միջազգային օդանավակայան, translit=Zvart'nots' mijazgayin ōdanavakayan) is located near Zvartnots, west of Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia. It acts as the main ...

is located just to the south of the village. The nearby village of

belongs to the Parakar community.

Churches in Parakar

*Church of the Holy Mother of God: built by the order of Catholicos

Nerses V :''There was also a Caucasian Albanian anti-Catholicos Nerses V, who ruled in 1706–1736.'' Nerses V ( hy, Ներսես Ե Աշտարակեցի, ) (1770 – February 13, 1857), served as the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church betwee ...

in 1855. It was renovated and reopened in 1992. *Surp Harutyun Church: originally built during the 9th century but almost entirely destroyed after the devastating earthquake of 1679. It remained in ruins until mid 19th century when it was rebuilt by the efforts of the villagers of Parakar and opened in 1859. In 1984, the belfry of the church was erected. In 1992, the church was partly renovated. Finally, the church was entirely renovated in 2004 by the efforts of Armenian benefactors from the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

References

*
World Gazeteer: Armenia
– World-Gazetteer.com * * Populated places in Armavir Province Erivan Governorate {{ArmavirAM-geo-stub