Holy Mother of God Church, Meghri, Armenian Apostolic church in Meghri, Armenia.
The Holy Mother of God Church is a four-pillar domed basilica in Meghri's elevated northern district, built of basalt with a brick drum and dome. It has two entrances, on the west and south, and a bell tower on the south side above the gabled roof: a square brick rotunda topped by a four-sided tent roof. The only exterior ornament is a ram's head beside the west window of the south facade.
The church belongs to the group of 17th-century domed churches of Meghri and is listed among the town's immovable monuments of history and culture. It stands in the elevated northern quarter, surrounded on all sides by residential houses. Its basilica plan with four piers and dome, basalt walls and brick drum and dome are described in Hasratyan's 1987 survey of Meghri district monuments.
The church is known locally as Surb Astvatsatsin and belongs to the Armenian Apostolic Church. Its interior is decorated with 19th-century wall paintings, which visitors can see today. The building is listed among Meghri's immovable monuments of history and culture.
Access to the church is through Meghri's main road, though seasonal conditions in this mountainous region can affect how easy the approach is. Visitors should be prepared for varying conditions depending on weather and local circumstances.
The only decorative carving on the church's exterior is a ram's head beside the western window of the south facade. The interior is decorated with 19th-century murals, later than the 17th-century building itself.
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