VIDEO: 5TH CENTURY ODZUN CHURCH THREATENS TO COLLAPSE, SAYS FOUNDATION
epress.am
11.16.2011
Though today the Surb Mariam Astvatsatsin (“Holy Mary Mother of God”)
Church in the northern Armenian village of Odzun offers regular mass,
conducts wedding, baptism and funeral ceremonies, the 1500-year-old
church threatens to collapse, according to a press statement issued by
the Hovhannes Imastaser Catholicos Oznetsi (Catholicos John of Odzun)
charitable foundation.
The Foundation notes that the church’s roof, walls, and foundation
are seriously damaged.
On Oct. 18, the Foundation signed a memorandum with Armenia’s Ministry
of Culture to repair and restore the holy site. Now, it’s just waiting
for the results of the tender to select a construction company to
conduct the work.
The Foundation, established in April of this year by Odzun-born
Russia-based businessman Movses Dzavaryan, is committed to financing
reconstruction work, which will take around 3 years and present a
film on the history of the monastery.