Yezidi community to build new temple in ArmeniaJuly 23, 2015 - 17:53 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Yezidi community of Armenia plans to build a new temple which is supposed to also serve as a cultural center. Yezidi businessman Mirza Sloyan, who had already covered the costs of the local pilgrimage site worth €1 million, will finance the construction of the temple as well. The temple will be built in Aknalich village and is supposed to be called Quba mêrê divanê. The Religious Council of the Yezidis approved of the temple's construction and blessed the initiative during the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide centennial in April of this year. Armenian architect, Artak Ghulyan was commissioned to design the temple. The architect presented a project shortly afterwards, which the Yezidi representatives, however, rejected. A new design is currently being developed. Quba mêrê divanê is the third Yezidi temple to be built in the post-Soviet area. Only a few weeks ago, the Yezidi community in Georgia´s capital Tbilisi inaugurated the temple Quba Siltan Êzîd, with international guests attending the event. 40,000 Yezidis live in Armenia according to the census of 2011. 1.3 per cent of the population, Yezidis make up Armenia´s largest ethnic minority. In 2012, the Armenian government officially recognized the Yezidis' ethno-religious identity. Related links: Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with Stephan Schütz, Executive Partner at Gerkan, Marg and Partners. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. Partner news | Azerbaijan extends Rune Vardanyan’s arrest by 5 months A court in Azerbaijan has extended the arrest of former Nagorno-Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan by five months. “Great success”: Pashinyan pleased with new border protocol Pashinyan has described the signing by Armenia and Azerbaijan of a protocol on delimitation in Tavush as “a great success”. Armenia, Azerbaijan sign protocol on demarcation coordinates Armenia’s government took on May 15 another step towards handing over four border areas to Azerbaijan. U.S. warns Georgia not to side with Moscow against the west Georgia has been warned by the U.S. not to become an adversary of the west by falling back in line with Moscow. |