June 12, 2012 - 12:35 AMT
Armenian chapel to become Stockholm's historic building

An Armenian chapel will become Stockholm's 192nd historic building, reported the Union of Armenian Associations in Sweden.

No one knows for sure who built the chapel. But perhaps it was Ohan Demirgian, a diplomat who was engaged in Stockholm's social life since arrived to Sweden in 1860s to submit some Barbary horses as a gift to King Charles XV from Egypt's monarch.

Demirgan received Överjärva court yard as a summer place and hosted lavish parties there. The chapel has been used as a conservatory, chapel, Armenian chapel and an artist's studio, according to Dagens Nyheter.

Union of Armenian Associations in Sweden welcomes the news. “Armenians have for years expressed interest in the building and it was periodically used for holding divine services. We hope it will remain as an important symbolic building in the Swedish cultural heritage,” the Union said in a statement.