St. Gregory the Illuminator's Church, Armenian church building near Fountains Square, Baku, Azerbaijan.
St. Gregory the Illuminator's Church is an Armenian church building near Fountains Square featuring large stone walls, multiple arched windows, and traditional Armenian architectural elements. The structure was designed by Karl Gustav Hippius in 1887 and displays characteristic features of Armenian architecture through its proportions and decorative details.
The church was built in 1887 as a symbol of Armenian presence in Baku and later faced damage from military conflicts. It survived the siege of Baku during World War I and subsequent political upheavals that reshaped the region.
The church served as a gathering place for the Armenian community and provided space for education and communal life. An adjacent girls' school and library were established by the Armenian Philanthropic Society to support the local population.
The building currently functions as an archive department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan and is not open to the public. Visitors who wish to see the interior should arrange advance permission through official channels.
The building stands as the last remaining Armenian monument in Baku, making it a rare testimony to the culture's historical presence in the city. It received a visit from Catholicos Karekin II in 2010, who came to pray and brought international attention to the structure.
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