Lower Bethlehemi Church

Georgian appropriation

From 1989 to 1995, the church underwent a heavy process of "Georganization", during which time all evidence of Armenian religious iconography was destroyed or removed and was replaced with Georgian ones.^[4]

The alterations to remove the church's original Armenian characteristics included:^[4]

• the destruction of the ground floor portal and mausoleum of Mother-Superior Peprone in 1990
• the removal of the iron gratings of the windows and the covering of windows with bricks in 1995
• the removal of Armenian high-reliefs stretching all around the drum of the church from 1991–1993
• the destruction on the top of the western pediment of the church (blown up on February 9, 1990)
• the destruction of the marble Armenian "khachkal" in the middle of the apse in 1990
• the removal of a marble cross, altar stone, and other fragments for safe-keeping at the Cathedral of Saint Gevorg in 1990
• the razing of the high altar and khachkal (1990–1991)
• the destruction of the baptistery font which had been in the northern wall
• the removal of the marble washing-basin (1870) and taken to safe-keeping at Saint Gevorg
• the destruction of the Armenian inscription on the interior of the drum that recounts the repairs of the cupola roof
• the removal of the Armenian inscription from 1870 that recounting the erection of the column with deaconess Hripsime Begtabeguiantz's means (removed in 1991)
• the removal of a marble inscription slab (1870) recounting deaconess Katarine Yerkainabazouk-Arghoutiantz's construction activity removed in 1990)
• the removal of the marble inscription slab which recounts the construction of activity of the Ourdoubekiantz couple (disappeared in 1990)
• the removal of the marble inscription slab recounting the construction of the upper floor of the church
• the removal of the inscription specifying that the metal spiral stairs leading to the upper floor were built in 1885 on the initiative and means of arch-deaconess Evpimia Behboutiantz
• the throwing away of other Armenian lapidary inscriptions during the abolition of the Armenian characteristics of the church between 1990–1991
• the removal and destruction of the memorial inscription carved on a marble slab on the wall of Mother-Superior Heprosime Abamelikian's burial vault under the portal in front of the northern entrance of the church (the mausoleum was also destroyed) in 1990
• A painting in the style of a Georgian fresco was placed on the tympanum of the altered northern entrance in June 1995

Gallery

• View of Saint Stepano (far right) and two other Armenian churches in Old Tbilisi: Saint George (far left)

• Another view of the Armenian Quarter with Saint Stepanos Church (right of center)

See also

• Saint Bethlehem Armenian Church, a nearby 18th century Armenian church
• Saint Gevorg of Mughni Church, a nearby 13th century Armenian church
• Cathedral of Saint George, a nearby 13th century Armenian church
• Holy Mother of God (Norashen) Church, a nearby 15th century Armenian church
• Armenians in Georgia

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Koosanats Sourb Stepanos (St. Stepanos of the Holy Virgins) Church, Tbilisi".  
2. ^  
3. ^ "Tbilisi Explorer: Lower Bethlehem". City of Tbilisi, Georgia. Retrieved 15 July 2009. 
4. ^ ^{a b}  

Armenian Apostolic Church Structure Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Holy See of Cilicia Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem Traditions Armenian Rite Matagh Personalities Apostles Saint Thaddeus and Saint Bartholomew (founders of the Armenian Apostolic Church) Gregory the Illuminator List of Catholicoi of Armenia Calendar

Historical Armenian monasteries and churches Armenia Aghjots Vank Akhtala Arakelots Areni Artavazik Aruchavank Arshakid Mausoleum Bgheno-Noravank Byurakan Ddmashen Dvin Etchmiadzin Cathedral Garnahovit Gayane Geghard Gharghavank Gladzor Gndevank Goshavank Haghartsin Haghpat Harichavank Havuts Tar Hayravank Hnevank Horomayri Hovhannavank Hripsime Jukhtak Vank Karbi Karmravor Kasagh Katoghike Katoghike Tsiranavor of Avan Kecharis Khor Virap Kirants Kobayr Kotavank Lmbatavank Makaravank Makenyats Vank Makravank Marmashen Mashtots Hayrapet Mastara Matosavank Neghutsi Vank Nor Varagavank Noraduz cemetery Noravank Odzun Oshakan Pemzashen Ptghavank Saghmosavank Saint Paul and Peter Saint Gevork of Mughni Samsoni Sanahin Sevanavank Shoghakat Spitakavor of Ashtarak Spitakavor of Vayots Dzor Surp Astvatsatsin of Vagharshapat Surp Hakob of Kanaker Surp Mariane of Ashtarak Surp Sarkis of Ashtarak Talin Tanahat Targmanchats Vank Tatev Tatevi Anapat Tegher Tsakhats Kar Tsiranavor of Ashtarak Tsovinar Ushi Vahanavank Vahramashen Vanevan Vorotnavank Voskevaz Yeghipatrush Yeghvard Yererouk Zoravor Zvartnots Nagorno-Karabakh Amaras Dadivank Gandzasar Gtichavank Katarovank Tsitsernavank Yeghishe Arakyal Yerits Mankants Azerbaijan Saint Sarkis Monastery of Gag Targmanchats List of Armenian churches in Azerbaijan Georgia Arants Vank Betlehemi Chugureti Ejmiatsnetsots Surp Gevork S. Grigor Lusavorich Jigrasheni Avetyats Kamoyants Karapet Karapi Karmir Avetaran Khojivank Krtsanits Tsiranavor (Geghardavank) Mughni Norashen Surp Nshan Saint Sarkis Surp Stepanos Zrkinyants Iran Holy Mother of God Saint Stepanos Saint Thaddeus Vank Cathedral Jerusalem and Holy Land Cathedral of St. James St. Toros Church Chapel of Saint Helena Saint Nicholas Monastery Turkey Aghtamar Ani Cathedral Arakelots Monastery Arapgir Cathedral Arter Banak Horomos Karmravank Kars Cathedral Khtzkonk Ktuts Lim Monastery of the All-Saviour (Trebizond) Mren Diyarbakir Narekavank Saint Bartholomew Monastery Saint George of Samatya, Istanbul Saint Hakob of Akori Monastery Saint Karapet Monastery Surp Gevork of Goms Surp Marineh Church, Mush Tekor Basilica Varagavank Varzahan Monastery Ukraine Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Surp Khach Monastery Armenia Portal

Contemporary Armenian churches and seminaries Armenia Gevorkian Theological Seminary Vaskenian Theological Academy Yerevan Holy Trinity Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral Saint John the Baptist Saint Sarkis (Kentron) Saint Sarkis (Nor Nork) Gyumri Holy Mother of God Church of the Holy Saviour Oshakan Saint Mesrop Mashtots Cathedral Nagorno Karabakh Ghazanchetsots Cathedral Kanach Zham Georgia Tbilisi Church of the Holy Seal Church of the Red Gospel Ejmiatsin Holy Mother of God (Bethlehem) Saint George Saint Gevorg of Mughni Saint Karapet Saint Stephanos Chugureti St. Astvatsatsin Lebanon Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia Armenian Catholic Patriarchate Syria Church of the Holy Mother of God Cathedral of the forty martyrs of Sebastia St. Hagop Church St. Gregory the Illuminator Church Holy Trinity Church Holy Cross Church Armenian Genocide Memorial Church (Der Zor) Azerbaijan Saint Elishe Saint Gregory of Baku Iran Saint Sargis United States Church of Our Savior, Worcester Holy Trinity Church, Fresno St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church St. Vartan Cathedral Saint Sarkis of Dearborn Other countries Austria Mekhitarist Monastery of Vienna India Armenian Church, Chennai Italy Mekhitarist Monastery of Venice (San Lazzaro) Ukraine Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Singapore Saint Gregory Armenia Portal

Historical Georgian monasteries and churches Georgia Bedia Dranda Ilori Mokva Pitsunda Skhalta Bagrati Gantiadi Gelati Katskhi Katskhis Sveti Ubisi Alaverdi Bodbe David Gareja Gremi Ikalto Kvelatsminda Kvetera Nekresi Betania Bolnisi Sioni Ertatsminda Gudarekhi Manglisi Pitareti Rustavi Sioni Tserakvi Tsughrughasheni Ananuri Gergeti Jvari Mtskheta Samtavro Shio-Mgvime Svetitskhoveli Zedazeni Barakoni Nikortsminda Adysh Martvili Tsalenjikha Chulevi Kumurdo Sapara Shavnabada Timotesubani Tsunda Vale Vanis Kvabebi Vardzia Zarzma Ateni Sioni Ikorta Kintsvisi Khvilisha Kvatakhevi Samtavisi Urbnisi Anchiskhati Betlehemi Kldisubani Metekhi S. Nicholas Tbilisi Sioni Armenia Tejharuyk Azerbaijan Kurmukhi Bulgaria Petritsoni Cyprus Gialia Greece Iviron Jerusalem and Palestine Monastery of the Cross North Caucasus Tkhaba-Yerdy Turkey Ancha Bana Doliskana Ishkhani Khakhuli Oshki Parekhi Khandzta Opiza Otkhta Eklesia Parkhali Tbeti Monastery

Categories

• Coordinates not on Wikidata
• CS1 Armenian-language sources (hy)
• Armenian churches in Tbilisi
• Old Tbilisi

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