Church of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God, Russian Orthodox church in Kanaker-Zeytun, Armenia
The Church of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God is a stone church with two distinctive domes displaying Russian Revival architecture, located along Zakaria Kanakertsi Street in northeastern Yerevan. The structure features characteristic design elements of this style, with ornate stonework and robust masonry throughout.
The structure was originally built to serve the 2nd Caucasian division of the Russian military and remained connected to Russian communities for many years. It ceased operations during the Soviet period but resumed its role as an active church following Armenia's independence in 1991.
The church is the main parish of the Russian Orthodox Church in Armenia, under the Yerevan-Armenia Diocese. On 17 March 2010 Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus and Catholicos Garegin II visited; Kirill gave a Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, and Garegin II presented a Vladimir Icon painted by Armenian iconographers.
The church stands in the old Kanaker district, about 7 km north of Yerevan's historic centre, on Zakaria Kanakertsi Street. It is an active parish of the Russian Orthodox Diocese of Yerevan and Armenia, so visitors should dress modestly and avoid entering during services. The building was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1991, so its present use as a working church is recent.
The church began as a temporary chapel consecrated on 29 January 1906 in a barracks room, dedicated to Saint Alexander Nevsky. The stone church that replaced it was built to a standard design by architect Fyodor Verzhbitsky, approved in 1901 and used for more than 60 military churches across the Russian Empire by 1917.
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