Surb Kiraki (Holy Sunday) Ancient Chapel Partially Repaired |
On October 25, 2015, Very Rev. Father Khoren Hovhannisyan, Pastor of the Marneuli District and nearby villages in the Kvemo Kartli region, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Srbots Avetaranchats Chapel (the Holy Evangelists) in the Tsiteli village. The Surb Etchmiadzin Church choir from Tbilisi sang at the liturgy. Following church services, Father Khoren in the company of Dn. Otari Gigauri and the choir members, visited the Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) Church in the village of Shahumyan and prayed there. Later the Very Rev. Father Khoren accompanied by village residents headed to the Surb Kiraki (Holy Sunday) Chapel, which is located not far from Armenian cemetery. The ancient chapel for many years had been in a dilapidated state. At last through the generosity of a local by origin, but living in Russia Ashot Avanyan the chapel was partially repaired and the threatened destruction was averted. Father Khoren blessed the salt of the offering, (matagh) initiated by the church benefactor. The Surb Kiraki (Holy Sunday) Group of Monuments is a monumental complex on a hilltop, on the eastern outskirts of the village of Shulaver. The monumental complex includes two adjacent, vaulted, single-nave churches (built of big rough stones using lime mortar), the ring- wall (dilapidated), tomb in the northwest and a large cemetery. The Surb Kiraki (Holy Sunday) Chapel is a pilgrimage site. After detailed analyses of building, its construction and composition, the chapel was dated to XII-XIII centuries. |