St. Mary's Church, Tskhinvali, Armenian church in Tskhinvali, Georgia

St. Mary's Church is a domed church of the Armenian Apostolic Church in central Tskhinvali, built in 1718 from brick and stone. Large crosses are set into the masonry of the facade walls, and the arches of the dome shape its outline. A small square lies in front of the church.

Built in 1718, the church is dated by an inscription on a large stone near its south door, which names the donors Kaykhosro and Parsadan, sons of George, and Givi, son of Kaykhosro. In the night of 7–8 August 2008, during the fighting for Tskhinvali, the church itself was not damaged; only part of its foundation cracked, while outbuildings 15 metres away were destroyed by a direct hit.

The church belongs to the Armenian Apostolic Church, though sources note it is now used by various Orthodox Christian groups in South Ossetia. Members of the Armenian community of South Ossetia have petitioned Catholicos Garegin II to open an Armenian Apostolic parish in Tskhinvali and send a priest to serve local Armenian believers.

The church stands in the central part of Tskhinvali, with a small square laid out in front of it. The building can be reached on foot from the main streets. Check current conditions in the region before travelling, as access can be restricted.

A large stone by the south door carries an inscription that dates the church to 1718 and names its donors: Kaykhosro and Parsadan, sons of George, and Givi, son of Kaykhosro. Look for it beside the entrance.