Church of the Red Gospel Կարմիր Ավետարան եկեղեցի |
|
---|---|
Church of the Red Gospel in the early 1900s
|
|
Basic information | |
Location |
Avlabari district, Tbilisi, Georgia |
Geographic coordinates | 41°41′28″N 44°48′53″E / 41.691014°N 44.814692°ECoordinates: 41°41′28″N 44°48′53″E / 41.691014°N 44.814692°E |
Affiliation | Armenian Apostolic Church |
Country | Georgia |
Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
Status | ruined (1989) |
Architectural description | |
Architectural style | Armenian |
Completed | 1775 |
Dome height (outer) | 40 meters |
The Church of the Red Gospel (Armenian: Կարմիր Ավետարան եկեղեցի, Karmir Avetaran Yekeghetsi; Armenian: Կարմիր վանք, Karmir Vank ) or Shamkoretsots Sourb Astvatsatsin Church (Armenian: Շամքորեցոց Սուրբ Աստվածածին եկեղեցի, meaning Shamkor Inhabitants' Holy Mother of God Church) is a ruined 18th century Armenian church in the Avlabar district of Old Tbilisi, Tbilisi, Georgia.
It was built in 1735 or 1775 or 1808, and renovated during the 19th century. According to Armenian sources, on April 13, 1989, the church was "blown up" or "destroyed.". Georgian officials deny that it was blown up, and ascribed its destruction to the intensity of an earthquake that had struck Tbilisi a day before. At 40 meters, it was the tallest Armenian church in Tbilisi. Today it stands in ruins, with its cupola gone.
The ruins of the church after the 1989 explosion
Location of the church (upper right) within the Avlabari district
Closeup of the ruins of the church
View of the ruins of the church (top center right) from Narikala fortress
View of the church in historical Tbilisi
The ruins of Karmir Avetaran church in 2016