Odzun Church 1275 Years Old

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS: An event on the 1275th anniversary of the church of Odzun was held today at the national library of Armenia.

Davit Sargsyan, director of the national library, says Odzun Church is one of the masterpieces of the medieval Armenian architecture and it needs a serious study.

According to Garnik Shaghkyan, doctor of architecture, professor, the church is often dated to an earlier period, than that of Catholicos Hovhan Odznetsi. According to Priest Vrtanes Badalyan, spiritual leader of Odzun, there are 3 graves of Armenian saints in the territory of Armenia: the grave of Hovhan Odzneci is situated in Odzun.

Odzun Church is an Armenian basilica, built in the 1st century in the village of Odzun, Lori Province. There is a carving of Christ with the gospel of St. John and two angels below at the eastern façade above the central window. At the southern façade, at each side of the central window there are two angels and traces of another figure, probably Christ. Much later, in the 19th century two small bell-towers were added. The adjacent territory and walls of the church were reconstructed 1977.