The Yalta Armenian Church began to be built in 1909 and its
construction was completed in 1914. The Armenian architect
Gabriel Ter-Mikelian was commissioned in 1905 to design the
church. The famous Armenian painter and theater artist
Vardges Surenyants was involved in sketches for the
construction and interior decoration of the building. The
church was built at the expense of the Baku oil
industrialist Poghos Ter-Ghukasyan. He was building a church
in memory of his deceased daughter. His daughter died early
and was buried in the family crypt, which was located at the
base of the church. Later, his two sons were also buried in
this tomb. According to the legend, one of the sons took his
own life, having lost quite a large amount of money at
cards, and the other died under unknown circumstances.
The Yalta Armenian Church was built in the traditions in
which the early Christian churches were built, and resembles
the ancient temple of Hripsime in Echmiadzin. The architect
took this ancient temple as the basis for his project. An
Armenian church was built in Yalta from the material of the
Foros volcanic tuff.
The main southern facade of the
building is adorned with a hundred steps leading to it,
framed by pyramidal cypresses. The central staircase
overlooks the stately dome topped with a cross. From here
you can admire the beauty of the low arch of the southern
entrance, a three-tiered loggia, which are decorated with
details exquisitely carved into stone by the hands of
craftsmen. The main entrance is located at the back of the
church. The main entrance portal is crowned with a graceful
belfry rotunda. In the northeastern part, there are two
arched windows, decorated with a relief image of a cross
with geometric patterns. The western side of the church ends
with a rotunda-belfry of six columns. The open loggia is
decorated with decorations made in the traditions of
Armenian architecture of the 12-13th centuries.
The
basement is intended for the crypt. It is emphasized by a
nominal niche, executed with grace, and a very beautiful
apse of the tomb. The entrance to the niche is framed by an
ornamented arch. A metal grate adorns the window of the
tomb. On it there is an image of two black ravens that guard
the eternal rest of the dead.
The domed hall of the
Armenian Church attracts with its original interior.
Cruciform in plan, it is illuminated by the wall pylons of
twelve arched windows. The dome of the church is adorned
with fresco painting depicting white and blue flowers
against a light greenish background. Flowers seem to be
drawn to the sun. This ornament is enlivened by birds of
paradise.
The creator of this church, Vardges
Surenyas, who died in 1921, received the last shelter here.
In front of the southern façade of the church is his
gravestone, made of gray diorite.