17th century Armenian church to get a new lease of life

PanARMENIAN.Net - On March 11-13, 2016, the international body of the Land and Culture Organization(LCO) held their general assembly meeting in Lyon, France to discuss current and upcoming Armenian historical restoration projects. The Board determined to launch a new campaign in the city of Meghri, Armenia. LCO will be renovating the 17th Century Sourp Hovannes Mkritch (St. John the Baptist) basilica church in Meghri, LCO said.

This historical site is in severe disrepair and has a unique Armenian style. The walls were painted by artists from the family of Naghash Hovnatanian, a renowned artist from the period whose works are also within the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

Meghri, one of the most fascinating and remote cities in Armenia, is situated in the southernmost tip overlooking the Iranian border on the Araks River. This tranquil quaint city with a population of about 4,500 is in a fertile valley where they grow Armenia’s national symbol, the pomegranate, as well as figs, walnuts, and persimmons. Today, as Armenia’s southern “gateway,” it maintains its strategic and economic significance as a town located at the crossroads of the South Caucasus; Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Iran and Russia.

The most recently completed LCO project was the 7th century Tchitckhanavank monastery in the northern Lori province of Armenia. After a culmination of five years of work by LCO volunteers, local artisans, archeologists, and architects, the site was consecrated in August 2015 and renamed Sourp Khatch (Holy Cross).

As part of its Armenian historical preservation mission, the organization is researching and documenting Armenian national monuments and properties confiscated by the Turkish state.