Armenian Cathedral of Lviv, Medieval cathedral in Old Town, Ukraine.
The Armenian Cathedral is a stone structure featuring a twelve-sided drum, open arcade galleries, and medieval tombstones with Armenian inscriptions scattered across the courtyard. The design combines classical Armenian architectural elements with European influences from the late medieval period.
Construction took place between 1363 and 1370 under architect Doring, serving as a religious center for Armenian merchants who controlled eastern trade routes. This building emerged from a broader Armenian diaspora movement in Europe during the late medieval period.
The interior walls display Art Deco frescoes created by Jan Henryk Rosen in the 1920s with religious scenes and carved stone crosses called khachkars. These works reflect an artistic blend between Armenian tradition and European styles that visitors can see throughout the rooms.
The complex is accessible through entrances on Virmenska Street and Lesya Ukrainka Street, allowing visitors to approach from different directions. You can spend time exploring both the interior spaces and the courtyard with its medieval tombstones at a comfortable pace.
The structure incorporates architectural elements from the Armenian city of Ani and remains the only building with Armenian church design in Western Ukraine. This design choice shows how emigrants preserved their homeland's character through architecture.
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