The Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church has strongly condemned what it described as the complete destruction of St. Hakob Church in Stepanakert by the Azerbaijani occupation authorities.

The statement notes that for years St. Hakob Church had been a center of spiritual life in Stepanakert, where thousands of Artsakh Armenians offered heartfelt prayers and where every Sunday “the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ were distributed.”

“This systematic, deliberate, and state-level cultural genocide continues before the eyes of the entire world. Clear evidence of this includes the completely destroyed churches of St. John the Baptist in Shushi, St. Sargis in Tandzatap and Mokhrenes, Holy Ascension in Berdzor, Zoravor Holy Mother of God in Mekhakavan, and many other sanctuaries.

No matter how ignored our just condemnations may remain by international structures tasked with preventing the continued implementation of this cultural catastrophe, we will, like the evangelical widow, persistently demand our just cause and rights.

Therefore, we once again call on relevant international bodies to intervene, stop this blatant vandalism, and prevent the destruction of Artsakh’s spiritual and cultural heritage, which is of pan-Christian value,” the statement reads.

St. Hakob Church was built in 2007 with the support of an Armenian-American benefactor in memory of his son, Hakob.