YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. The restoration works of St. Mary Church of Odzun village of Lori province are expected to be completed on October 5, Odzun village pastor Vrtanes Baghalyan told Armenpress, adding that the works are being carried out in a proper and qualified manner.

“Working specialists are quite experienced. Many of them were offered jobs in other countries, however, they preferred to stay in homeland and bring their contribution to the restoration of Odzun church. We have many experienced masters – Hamlet Hakobyan, Derenik Hakobyan, Tadevosyan brothers, Gegham Muradyan, Garegin Manukyan and others. They are mainly village residents”, Vrtanes Baghalyan said.

The restoration works launched on April 4. It is expected to restore all 6 arches of the church’s open halls which were demolished in the 80s of the past century, as well as to restore the walls and cornices. New wooden window frames will be placed. The restoraters acquired effective injection materials. It is also expected to construct draining system across the church.

The works are carried out in accordance with the project design approved by the Scientific-Methodological Council of the Culture Ministry. Works worth 63 million AMD are expected for this stage.

“The works are carried out quite well, I only wish that as an operating church the halls will be completed for practical use. It would be desirable to have another stage of works after this stage and the halls will be completed”, he said.

Philanthropist Movses Dzavaryan finances the restoration works of the church. The construction works are conducted by Levguk company.  

Vrtanes Baghalyan informed that construction works are organized in a way that no part of the church is closed.

“Nothing hinders the activity of the church. We have 150-200 foreign tourists in a day. Thanks to experienced masters tourists have a chance to take part in master class and to see how the master restores the church with his own hands”, he said.

The previous, more large-scale stage of the church’s restoration lasted 3 years and completed in 2014. The dome has been restored in its original form and with a cross, the walls have been totally strengthened.