Saint Karapet Church, Tbilisi

Saint Karapet Church
წმინდა კარაპეტის ეკლესია Սուրբ Կարապետ եկեղեցի
Religion
Affiliation	Georgian Orthodox Church / Armenian Apostolic Church
Location
Location	Between Chugureti and Avlabari Old Tbilisi, Georgia
Shown within Georgia
Geographic coordinates	41°41′53.2″N 44°48′36.3″E / 41.698111°N 44.810083°E / 41.698111; 44.810083
Architecture
Style	Armenian
Completed	supp. 1705

Saint Karapet Church (Georgian: წმინდა კარაპეტის ეკლესია, Armenian: Սուրբ Կարապետ եկեղեցի; Russian: Церковь св. Карапет) is an Armenian church now functioning as Georgian Orthodox church in Old Tbilisi, Georgia. It is located between the Chugureti and Avlabari districts.

Construction

The date of foundation is unclear because of various sometimes mutually excluding versions. In the list of Armenian heritage ordered by

and Sahakashen churches also dedicated to St. Karapet Forerunner.

Interesting facts

Among famous Armenians who studied here was Nar-Dos.

Jason Tumanian, a mayor of Tbilisi, with all his family were buried in the yard of the church.

The church once had decorated doors in the traditions of Armenian ornamental art: they were removed after the end of the Soviet Union.

Soviet years and modern times

During the Soviet-era Saint Karapet was not a functioning church, but it escaped the destruction that was the fate of 11 other Armenian churches destroyed by Lavrentiy Beria's orders in the 1930s.

In 1995 the bell tower was demolished and the church was reconsecrated by the Georgian Church and now functions as a Georgian Orthodox church.

References

• (in Russian) Армянские церкви Тбилиси – Св. Карапет
• Short video about St. Karapet church – [1]

See also

• Armenians in Tbilisi
• List of Armenian Apostolic Churches in Georgia