Kanach Zham, Armenian Apostolic church in Shusha, Azerbaijan
Kanach Zham is an Armenian Apostolic church building in Shusha District with a cruciform layout and a central dome. The structure features detailed stone carvings and painted wall designs that run throughout its interior spaces.
Construction began in 1818 on the site of an earlier wooden chapel called Gharabakhtsots that had served local farmworkers. The new stone church replaced this older place of worship and became the district's principal religious center.
The name Kanach Zham means green church in Armenian, referring to the original color of the structure. Armenian worshippers gathered here for religious services and community events that marked the rhythm of local life for generations.
The building sits on elevated ground and can be reached with proper footwear. The site is easy to explore on foot, with a short walk to nearby other religious structures in the area.
An inscription dated 1847 marks the entrance with the names Stepanos Hovhannes and his brother Mkrtych. These names preserve a record of two figures who held special significance in the church's story.
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