Holy Mother of God Church | Vanadzor

Silent Witnesses in Stone: The Cross-Stones of the Holy Mother of God Church in Vanadzor

In the heart of Vanadzor, away from the city's busy streets, stands the Holy Mother of God Church—rich in history and spiritual depth. Yet beyond the church's architectural beauty and religious importance, its courtyard holds a unique story—etched into the stone of ancient cross-stones.

These khachkars, the stone-carved symbols of Armenian faith and heritage, stand silently in the church courtyard, bearing witness to time and memory. It is believed that an earlier church once stood right where these cross-stones are now located, before being destroyed by a devastating earthquake in 1826. In 1831, with the initiative of the respected officer Piruman Yuzbash Tayirov, a new church was built using stones from the ruins of the old one.

The khachkars found here may date back to much earlier centuries. More than just religious symbols, they are historical records—testifying to the migration of Armenians from Western Armenia and the cultural and spiritual life that flourished in this area. Near these stones lie the graves of prominent families who immigrated from Erzurum and Mush in 1828, including the Abovyans, Karagyozyans, Ghambaryans, and Jaghatspanyans.

These cross-stones are a powerful reminder that history doesn’t just live in books—it’s also etched in stone, preserved in the silent testimony of sacred memory. And in that silence, everything is said. Visitors are encouraged to explore not only the church interior but also the courtyard, where history stands still in every carved line and weathered surface.