Saint Thaddeus Church, Masis

The Saint Thaddeus Church (), is an Armenian Apostolic church in the town of Masis, Ararat Province, Armenia, currently serving as an alternative seat for the Diocese of Masyatsotn.

History

The construction site of the Church was chosen by Vazgen I, the Catholicos of All Armenians, in 1991 and the ground blessing service was conducted in the same year. The construction started in 2003 by the initiative and funding of benefactor Hrant Vardanyan. In 2015, the construction of the Church was completed by his sons, Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans.

The Church, built with the blessing of Vazgen I, the Catholicos of All Armenians, was named after the Apostle St. Thaddeus. On October 4, 2015, the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, consecrated the Saint Thaddeus Church. The hall for candle lighting is located at the entrance of the Church. A memorial fountain dedicated to Hrant Vardanyan, is installed in the yard of the Church.On April 24, 2016, by the initiative of benefactors Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans, a khachkar was placed in the yard of the Church, in honor of the 1,5 million canonized martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. The khachkar was carved of a whole tuff stone by Artak Hambardzumyan.

Architecture

The architects of St. Thaddeus Church are Artur and Anahit Tarkhanyans. It is a combination of Armenian church building traditions, and contemporary architectural and construction solutions. The church is triple-stepped, and differs by its design and spatial solutions. The internal space is shaped by two intersecting squares, which symbolize eternity and purity of faith, and through the latter the whole structural system is constructed. The dome is rested on semi crossing arches. The external and internal cladding of the Church is unique. The colors from the center to the edges become lighter, and from the base to the dome – darker. The height of the temple, without the cross on the dome, is 33 meters, which symbolizes the years of Jesus Christ’s life on earth. Thirty-three biblical commandments are engraved on the entire wall surrounding the Church.20 years ago the construction of Saint Thaddaeus Church of Masis started
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Gallery

Saint Tadeos6.jpg, The main entrance to the Church
Saint Tadeos9.jpg, View of the Church from the West
Saint Tadeos11.jpg, View of the Church from the East
Saint Tadeos7.jpg, Hall for candle lighting
Saint Tadeos8.jpg, Memorial fountain dedicated to Hrant Vardanyan
Saint Tadeos church in Masis.jpg, Thirty-three biblical commandments engraved on the wall of the Church


Saint Tadeos.jpg, Tabernacle
Saint Tadeos2.jpg, Hall for candle lighting
Saint Tadeos3.jpg, Dome
Saint Tadeos4.jpg, Entrance to Church
Saint Tadeos5.jpg, Khachkar in honor of martyrs of the Armenian Genocide

See also

* Apostle Thaddeus
* St. Thaddeus Monastery

References

External links

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans sponsored the instalment of the cross-stone in the courtyard of St. Thaddeus church


Anahit Tarkhanyan: The newly consecrated St. Thaddeus church in Masis was built using a unique architectural technique


RA President Serzh Sargsyan was present at the consecration of the newly built church in Masis

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Armenian Apostolic churches in Armenia
21st-century Oriental Orthodox church buildings
21st-century churches in Armenia
Churches completed in 2015