STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The Surb Astvatsatsin Church of Shoshkavank was consecrated by the head of the Artsakh diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archishop Pergev Martirosian on November 12. Shoshkavank as a sacred place dates back to the 13th century. The church was thoroughly repaired with the donations of former Minister of Defence of the NKR Samvel Babayan and his brother Karo Babayan, while the expenses on equipping the area with modern amenities and constructing the adjacent structures were covered by businessman Tigran Khachatrian from Artsakh. The Archbishop Pergev Martirosian together with clergymen of the Artsakh diocese started the consecration ceremony early in the morning. They consecrated the Holy Altar, the icon of the Mother of God, the four pillars of the Altar with the names of the four Evangelists written on them, the font, and the other pillars of the church. Following the consecration ceremony, a Holy Liturgy was celebrated in Shoshkavank (after a long period of interruption) by the Archbishop Pargev Martirosian. In his sermon, the head of the Artsakh diocese stated that prayers in this church were interrupted because during the years of godlessness the church underwent the same ordeal as the whole people, sharing their fate. "The yoke of godlessness was also thrown off by the Artsakh liberation struggle, and God granted a victory to us and blessed us to restore our sacred places," the Archbishop said. According to the information system of the Artsakh diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Chuech, the ceremony was attended by Speaker of the NKR National Assembly Ashot Ghulian, Chairman of the Supreme Court of the NKR Ararat Danielian, NA deputies, high-ranking officials, and the faithful.

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