Diocese of Artsakh

The Diocese of Artsakh (Armenian: Արցախի թեմ, romanized: Artsakhi t'em) is one of the largest dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Nagorno-Karabakh. It is named after the historic province of Artsakh; the 10th province of the Kingdom of Armenia. The diocesan headquarters are located on Ghazanchetots street 72, in the town of Shushi. The seat of the bishop is the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral. On 21 January 2022, Vrtanes Abrahamyan was appointed Primate of the Diocese.

History

The diocese was established in 1989. Since its creation, archbishop Pargev Martirosyan (Պարգև արքեպիսկոպոս Մարտիրոսյան) has served as its primate.

All churches in Nagorno-Karabakh were closed in the 1930s by the Soviet government. The totalitarian regime was relatively relaxed by Mikhail Gorbachev. A mass movement for the unification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia started in February 1988. With Armenian national identity on the rise in the Soviet Union, the Diocese of Artsakh was established in 1989. The 13th century Gandzasar monastery was the first one to be reopened. It remains the historic center of the Diocese of Artsakh, while the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral is the administrative center of the diocese.

The construction of the Holy Mother of God Cathedral in Stepanakert was launched on July 19, 2006. The cost of the project is around US$2 million, and the architect of the church is Gagik Yeranosyan. However, the construction process was slow due to the lack of financial resources. Upon its consecration, it will become the seat of the Diocese of Artsakh.

After the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, renewing the conflict in 2016, and later in 2020, by the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, in 2022, and later in 2023 by the Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh, incidents led to various incidents of hatred and use of the force and ethnic cleansing against Armenians and damage, rewriting the history and destruction or conversion of Armenian cultural heritage by Armenian military forces. Churches of the Diocese of Artsakh were often occupied, damaged, or destroyed, or converted to "Caucasus Albanian" churches. After the war in 2020 there were around 400 holy sites in the area and some of them were desecrated or destroyed when Azerbaijan got the territory. European commission criticized Azerbaijan's policy of erasing and denying the Armenian cultural heritage and adopted the resolution 2022/2582(RSP). Conflict in 2023 lead to massive exodus of Armenians from the area.

Active churches

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

Churches

Askeran region
- Holy Mother of God church, Askeran City, 2002
- Holy Mother of God church, Aygestan, 1850
- St. George church, Astghashen, 1898
- Holy Mother of God church, Dashushen, 1843
- St. John the Baptist church, Lusadzor, 19th century
- St. Stephen church, Khachen, 13th century
- Holy Mother of God church, Khnatsakh, 19th century
- Holy Mother of God church, Karmir Gyugh, 1841
- Holy Mother of God church, Madatashen, 19-20th centuries
- Holy Mother of God church, Nakhijevanik, 19th century
- St. Stephen church, Badara/Patara, 19th century
- St. George church, Sarnakhbyur, 1875
- "Phirumashen" church, Sarushen, 12-13th century
Martakert region
- Vankasar Church, near Martakert, 7th century
- Saint John the Baptist Church, Martakert City, 1881
- St. Anthony church, Zaglik, 2007
- St. Sarkis church, Harutyunagomer, 2005
- Saint George's Church, Mets Shen, 2011
- Church in the settlement of "Mandur", Mehmana, 12-15th centuries
- Holy Mother of God church, Mehmana, 1229
- Holy Mother of God church, Nerkin Horatagh, 1904-1914
- St. George church, Nerkin Oratakh, 2012
- Holy Mother of God church, Vaghuhas, 2012
- St. George church, Haterk
- Holy Mother of God church, Tonashen, 19th century
Martuni region
- Church of St. Nerses the Great, Martuni, 2004
- Holy Mother of God church, Ashan, 1896
- Holy Mother of God church, Avdur, 1874
- Holy Mother of God church, Tsovategh, 19th century
- "Targmanchants vank" church, Kaghartsi, 19th century
- Holy Mother of God church, Kolkhozashen, 19th century
- Holy Mother of God church, Haghorti, 1751
- St. Gregory church, Chartar City, 19th century
- St. Vardan church, Chartar City, 2018
- Holy Mother of God church, Nngi, 1853
- Holy Mother of God church, Nngi, 1895
- St. Gregory the Illuminator, Nngi
- St. John the Baptist church, Norshen, 19th century
- Holy All-Savior church, Spitakashen, 13th century
Shahumyan region - most of churches is on the terriroty occupied by Azerbaijan
- St. Dadi church, 1178
- St. Nshan Katoghike church, 1174
- Domed small church of St. Gregory the Illuminator, 1211-1224
- Holy Mother of God church, 17th century
Shushi region
- St. Sarkis church, Yeghtsahogh, 2006
- St. Pantaleon church, Mets Shen, 1658
- Saint John the Baptist Church (Kanach Zham), Shusha, 1818, not operating, terriroty occupied by Azerbaijan
- Ghazanchetsots Holy Savior Cathedral, Shusha, 1888, not operating, terriroty occupied by Azerbaijan
Stepanakert
- Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God, Stepanakert, 2019
- Saint Jacob Church, Stepanakert, 2007
Kashatagh region - terriroty occupied by Azerbaijan
Hadrut region - terriroty occupied by Azerbaijan
- Holy Resurrection Church, Hadrut, 1621, not operating, terriroty occupied by Azerbaijan
Other
- Church of the Holy Ascension, Lachin, 1998
- Church of the Holy Martyrs, Zabux, 2002
- Saint George's Church, Aşağı Oratağ, 2012
- Saint John the Baptist Church, Daşbaşı, 2013

Monasteries

Amaras Monastery, Sos, 4th-19th centuries
Tsitsernavank Monastery, Tsitsernavank, 5-6th centuries
"Metsaranits" monastery, called also "Hakobavank" monastery complex, Qolatak/Kolatak, Martakert region, 7-13th centuries
Gandzasar monastery complex, Vank, Martakert region, 10-13th centuries
"Dadivank" monastery complex, Dadivank, Shahumyan region, 12th-13th centuries
"Shoshkavank" monastery complex, Msmna, Martuni region, 16th century
"Gyulistani anapat" monastery complex, called also Monastery of the Holy All-Savior church, Tonashen, Martakert region, 17th century

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 Artsakh:

Katarovank Monastery, Hadrut Region, 4th century
Yeghishe Arakyal Monastery, Martakert Region, 5th century
Dadivank Monastery, Shahumyan Region, 9-13th centuries
Gtichavank Monastery, Togh, 1248
Monastery of Tsar, Tsar, 1301
Yerits Mankants Monastery, Martakert Region, 1691

List of Churches and Monasteries

Below is list of churches, monasteries, and chapels under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Artsakh and their operating status from Askeran, Hadrut, Kashatagh, Martakert, Martuni, Shahumyan, Shushi regions and Stepanakert.