ABOVYAN CITY

Makers Story
Country
Armenia
Year
2024
Mentor
Lilit Grigoryan
(Abovyan School of Fine Arts)
Participants
ANI
AREVIK
MILENA
SONA
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Overview

While researching the history of the city of Abovyan, we decided to showcase its rich heritage to the public, aiming to raise awareness and encourage people to visit this remarkable place and delve into its sights and history. We want our guests from abroad to better understand the hidden beauty of our city. So, we decided to present some of the central parts of the city.
The area where Abovyan stands has been inhabited since ancient times, evidenced by discoveries such as cuneiform inscriptions dating back to the 7th century BCE attributed to Aram and Argitsti, the southern part of the city boasts a Cyclopean fortress, settlements, and tombs dating from the 2nd  to 1st  millennium BCE.
Originally named Elar, the settlement was renamed in 1961 in honor of the esteemed Armenian writer Khachatur Abovyan.
The Saint Stepanos Church of Elar holds a significant place within the city of Abovyan. Built in the 19th century, records from Mesrop Archbishop Smbatyan indicate its construction in 1851 in the village of Elar, situated southeast of Abovyan.                                    

There are many tombstones in the church yard. It was renovated in 2001. At the beginning of July 2010, thanks to the donations of several French benefactors, renovation works were again underway. Father Mashtots Babayan is the spiritual pastor of the church.
The statue of Trdat of Armania King, Trdat III the Great, was erected in the Saralanj district of Abovyan city in 1878. Crafted by sculptor Karlen Nurijanyan, it stands as a symbol of Abovyan. The bronze statue depicts King Trdat wrestling against the big bull, mounted on a pedestal.
Saint Hovhannes Church, another notable landmark in Abovyan, the construction began on August 24, 2006. Designed by the honored architect of Armenia Artak Ghulyan, the project was executed by constructors Hovhannes Meloyan and Tigran Dadayan, with the involvement of approximately 40 sculptors and  decorator masters in the sculpting process.