Armenian Cathedral of Lviv

The Armenian Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary (Armenian: Հայկական տաճար, Ukrainian: Вірменський собор, Polish: Katedra ormiańska) in Lviv, Ukraine is located in the city's Old Town, north of the market square. Until 1945 it was the cathedral of the Armenian Catholic Archdiocese of Lviv, since 2000 it serves as a cathedral of the Eparchy of Ukraine of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

History

1363-1945

A small Armenian church was built in the years 1363–1370, founded by an Armenian merchant from Caffa, and established as the mother church of an eparchy. It is said to have been modeled after the Cathedral of Ani in the ancient Armenian capital of Ani. In 1437 the cathedral was surrounded with an arcade gallery: today only the southern one is preserved and the northern has been rebuilt into a sacristy. After the church was damaged in a city fire in 1527, a new stone belfry was erected in 1571. In 1630 the main nave was extended, and was further rebuilt in 1723. From the 17th century until 1945, the cathedral belonged to the Armenian Catholic archdiocese of Lviv (in Polish, Lwów), as union with the Roman Catholic Church was introduced by bishop Mikołaj (Nicolas) Torosowicz and his successor, archbishop Vartan Hunanyan. The Cathedral owes most of its present-day look to a remodeling carried out in the years 1908-1927 by archbishop Józef (Joseph) Teodorowicz.

1945-present

Lviv (named Lwów in Polish) was in the eastern part of the territory reconstituted as Poland in 1919-20; and after World War II, that portion of the territory was taken from Poland and annexed by the Soviet Union, becoming part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1945 the new Soviet authorities decided to annihilate the Armenian Catholic Archdiocese of Lviv, and arrested its last administrator, the Rev. Dionizy Kajetanowicz (murdered in the Soviet gulag in 1954) and three other priests. Almost all the Polish Armenians were expelled to the west, to modern-day Poland. The Cathedral was closed, and its building was used for storing plundered sacral art. Officially, the Armenian Catholic Archdiocese of Lviv still exists, but it has remained vacant since 1938.^[1]

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a handful of Armenian Catholic families attempted to reestablish the parish. Also the Armenians who came to Lviv during the Soviet times, belonging to the Armenian Apostolic Church, sought to acquire the cathedral.

Shortly before the visit of Pope John Paul II, the local Ukrainian authorities passed the Cathedral to the Armenian Apostolic Church under the condition both the Armenian Catholic and Armenian Apostolic communities could use it.^[2] An Armenian Apostolic eparchy was established in Lviv in 1997.

On 18 May 2003 the Cathedral was re-consecrated by the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and three other Armenian Apostolic bishops. Among the guests were: speaker of the Armenian parliament Armen Khachatryan, former president of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk, president of the Union of Armenians in Ukraine, French singer of Armenian origin Charles Aznavour with his son, Armenian actor Armen Dzhigarkhanyan and Armenian Ambassador to Ukraine Hrachya Silvanyan. Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate was represented by bishop Augustin.^[3] Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was represented by rev. Mikhail Dymyd. In the name of the Ukrainian government the head of the Religions State Agency Victor Bondarenko was present. However, neither Polish Armenians - the former owners of the Cathedral, nor Armenian Catholic Church clergymen were invited.

Since 2009 the Cathedral has been in course of a renovation process, fully financed by the Polish Ministry of Culture in cooperation with the Foundation of Culture and Heritage of Polish Armenians seated in Warsaw. The works are being conducted jointly by Polish and Ukrainian specialists.

Interior and surroundings

Just north of the Cathedral lies a small convent of Armenian Benedictines, and to the south, adjoining the bell tower, the palace of the Armenian Archbishops, both built in the late 17th century.

The present-day interior is largely the work of Jan Henryk Rosen and Józef Mehoffer. The cathedral holds two wonder-working icons of St. Gregory the Illuminator and the Mother of God, brought in the 17th century from Yazlovets.

The oldest preserved part of the Cathedral, with Renaissance arcades		The interior		Belltower and bishop's palace

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Armenian church, Lviv.

• Armenians in Ukraine
• Armenians in Poland

References

Coordinates: 49°50′36″N 24°1′51″E / 49.84333°N 24.03083°E / 49.84333; 24.03083

Lviv
History	Timeline Armenian Statute Dormition Brotherhood Jesuit Collegium First Siege by Cossacks Second Siege by Cossacks Lwów Oath Siege by Turks Leopolis Triplex Stauropegion Institute Stauropegion Press Ossolineum Galician Rada Halytsko-Ruska Matytsia Prosvita Ruthenian Triad Ruthenian National House Hutsul Secession Batiars Lwów Eaglets Battle 1918 Pogrom 1918 Battle 1920 Secret Ukrainian University Lwów–Warsaw school of logic Lwów School of Mathematics Battle 1939 Massacre of Lwów professors Lviv pogroms Lwów Ghetto Lwów Uprising Sknyliv air show disaster
Religion	Armenian Cathedral Cathedral of St. George Boim Chapel Bernardine Church Bridgettine Convent Carmelite Church Convent of Benedictines Church of St. Anne Church of John the Baptist Church of Mary of Snow Church of St. Elizabeth Church of St. Mary Magdalene Church of St. Onuphrius Church of the Dormition Church of the Purification, Lviv Church of the Transfiguration Dominican Church Jesuit Church Latin Cathedral
Attractions	Arena Lviv Arsenal Museum Bandinelli Palace Black Kamienica Catholic University Cemetery of the Defenders of Lwów Forum Lviv Freedom Boulevard Government House King Cross Leopolis Korniakt Palace Lviv High Castle Lviv University Lychakivskiy Cemetery Market Square Mickiewicz Square National Museum Polytechnic University Lubomirski Palace Metropolitan Palace Old Town Pharmacy Museum Potocki Palace Sapieha Palace Scottish Café Shevchenkivskyi Hai Theatre of Opera and Ballet Skarbek Theatre Town Hall Ukraina Stadium Union of Lublin Mound
Transport	International Airport Tramway Lviv railway station Lviv Suburban railway station

Historic Armenian monasteries and churches
Armenia	Aghjots Vank Akhtala Arakelots of Kirants Areni Artavazik Aruchavank Arshakid Mausoleum Bgheno-Noravank Byurakan Ddmashen Dvin Etchmiadzin Garnahovit Gayane Geghard Gharghavank Gladzor Gndevank Goshavank Haghartsin Haghpat Harichavank Havuts Tar Hayravank Hnevank Horomayri Hovhannavank Hripsime Jukhtak Vank Karbi Karmravor Kasagh Katoghike Katoghike Tsiranavor of Avan Kecharis Khor Virap Kirants Kobayr Kotavank Kristapori Vank Lmbatavank Makaravank Makenyats Vank Makravank Marmashen Mashtots Hayrapet Mastara Matosavank Neghutsi Vank Nor Varagavank Noratus Noravank Odzun Oshakan Pemzashen Ptghavank Saghmosavank Saint Paul and Peter Saint Gevork of Mughni Samsoni Sanahin Sevanavank Shoghakat Spitakavor of Ashtarak Spitakavor of Vayots Dzor Surp Astvatsatsin of Vagharshapat Surp Hakob of Kanaker Surp Mariane of Ashtarak Surp Sarkis of Ashtarak Talin Tanahat Targmanchats Vank Tatev Tatevi Anapat Tegher Tsakhats Kar Tsiranavor of Ashtarak Tsovinar Ushi Vahanavank Vahramashen Vanevan Vorotnavank Voskepar Voskevaz Yeghipatrush Yeghvard Yererouk Zoravor Zvartnots
Nagorno-Karabakh	Amaras Dadivank Gandzasar Gtichavank Katarovank Tsitsernavank Yeghishe Arakyal Yerits Mankants
Azerbaijan	Saint Sarkis Monastery of Gag Targmanchats List of Armenian churches in Azerbaijan
Cyprus	Surp Magar Monastery Notre Dame de Tyre Sourp Asdvadzadzin Sourp Boghos chapel Sourp Haroutiun Chapel Sourp Amenapergitch Sourp Stepanos Sourp Kevork Church Ganchvor monastery
Georgia	Arants Vank Betlehemi Chugureti Ejmiatsnetsots Surp Gevork S. Grigor Lusavorich Jigrasheni Avetyats Kamoyants Karapet Karapi Karmir Avetaran Khojivank Krtsanits Tsiranavor (Geghardavank) Mughni Norashen Surp Nshan Saint Sarkis Surp Stepanos Zrkinyants
Iran	Saint Stepanos Monastery Saint Thaddeus Monastery Surp Asdvadsadsin Church of Darashamb Surp Asdvadsadsin Church of Tabriz Chapel of Chupan Saint Gevorg Church of Haftvan Chapel of Dzordzor Surp Asdvadzadzin Surp Amenaprkich Vank Surp Bethlehem Church Surp Asdvadsadsin of New Julfa Surp Gevorg Church of New Julfa
Jerusalem and Holy Land	Cathedral of St. James St. Toros Church Church of the Holy Archangels Chapel of Saint Helena Saint Nicholas Monastery
Turkey	Aghtamar Ani Cathedral Arakelots Monastery Arapgir Cathedral Arter Banak Church of the Redeemer Holy Mother of God Cathedral Horomos Karmravank Kars Cathedral Khtzkonk Ktuts Lim Monastery of the All-Saviour (Trebizond) Mren Diyarbakir Soradir Narekavank Saint Bartholomew Monastery Surb Nshan Monastery Saint George of Samatya, Istanbul Saint Hakob of Akori Monastery Surb Karapet Monastery Surp Gevork of Goms Surp Marineh Church, Mush Tekor Basilica Varagavank Varzahan Monastery Yerazgavors
Ukraine	Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Surp Khach Monastery
Armenia Portal

Cathedrals of Ukraine
Eastern Orthodoxy	Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Yalta Annunciation Cathedral, Kharkiv Assumption Cathedral, Kharkiv Chersonesus Cathedral Refectory Church (Cave Monastery) St. Catherine's Cathedral, Kherson St. Panteleimon's Cathedral Saint Sophia's Cathedral, Kiev St. Vladimir's Cathedral, Sevastopol St. Volodymyr's Cathedral Transfiguration Cathedral, Dnipropetrovsk Trinity Cathedral, Kiev Transfiguration Cathedral, Odessa Uzhhorod Orthodox Cathedral
Catholic Church	Resurrection Cathedral Latin Cathedral Holy Cross Cathedral St. Nicholas Cathedral St. George's Cathedral
Armenian Apostolic Church	Armenian Cathedral of Lviv