Diocese of Aragatsotn

in Ashtarak Historically, the territory of modern-day Aragatsotn has been regulated by the Araratian Pontifical Diocese and the Diocese of Shirak. The towns of Ashtarak and Aparan along with their villages were under the jurisdiction of the Araratian diocese, while the town of Talin and the surrounding areas were under the jurisdiction of Shirak diocese. After the independence from the Soviet Union, Armenia has been divided into provinces based on the territorial administration reform of 1995. During the following year, the Diocese of Aragatsotn was officially founded upon a kontakion issued by Catholicos Karekin I on May 30, 1996. The Saint Mesrop Mashtots Church in Oshakan has served as the seat of the diocese since the formation of the diocese. Currently, the Aragatsotn diocese has 29 churches and 9 chapels under its jurisdiction. ==Primates==

• Bishop Navasard Kchoyan 1996–1999 • Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan 1999–2002 • Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan 2002–2003 • Archimendrite Torgom Tonikyan 2003–2007 • Archimendrite Grigor Khachatryan 2007–2009 • Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan 2009–present ==Active churches==

Here is the list of churches, monasteries and chapels functioning under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Aragatsotn, along with their location and year of consecration: Churches • Kasagh Basilica of the Holy Cross, Aparan, 4th-5th centuries • Church of Saint John, Mastara, 5th century • Karmravor Church, Ashtarak, 7th century • Saint Stephen Church, Kosh, 7th century • Surp Hovhannes Church, Byurakan, 10th century • Church of the Holy Mother of God, Otevan, 11th century • Church of the Holy Mother of God, Ashnak, 11th century, rebuilt in 2013 • Saint Marianeh Church, Ashtarak, 1271 (the current seat) • Saint Gregory Church, Parpi, 13th century • Saint Sarkis Church, Ashtarak, 17th century • Surp Astvatsatsin Church, Karbi, 1693 • Saint Mesrop Mashtots Church, Oshakan, 1879 • Surp Hovhannes Church, Melikgyugh, 1891 • Church of the Holy Mother of God, Aparan, 19th century • Saint George's Church, Talin, 19th century • Saint Gregory Church, Kosh, 19th century • Akunk Church, Akunk, 19th century • Church of the Holy Mother of God, Kuchak, 1900 • Church of the Holy Mother of God, Nor Yedesia, 1999 • Surp Stepanos Church, Chknagh, 2004 • Church of Saint Gregory of Narek, Ghazaravan, completed in 2005 but not yet consecrated • Surp Nshan Church, Berkarat, 2011 File:Ապարանի Սուրբ Խաչ.jpg|Kasagh Basilica of the Holy Cross, Aparan, 4th-5th centuries File:Մաստարայի Սուրբ Հովհաննես եկեղեցին.jpg|Church of Saint John, Mastara, 5th century File:Karmravor Corner1.jpg|Karmravor Church, Ashtarak, 7th century File:Kosh S. Stepanos.jpg|Saint Stephen Church, Kosh, 7th century File:Բյուրականի Սբ. Հովհաննես (3).JPG|Surp Hovhannes Church, Byurakan, 10th century File:Եկեղեցի 10 դ. Օթևան 02.jpg|Church of the Holy Mother of God, Otevan, 11th century File:S Astvacacin Ashnak 2015 aug pic 01.JPG|Church of the Holy Mother of God, Ashnak, 11th century, rebuilt in 2013 File:Ashtarak S. Mariane.jpg|Saint Marianeh Church, Ashtarak, 1271 File:Փարպիի Ս. Գրիգոր Լուսավորիչ3.JPG|Saint Gregory Church, Parpi, 13th century File:S. Sargis Church of Ashtarak.JPG|Saint Sarkis Church, Ashtarak, 17th century File:Եկեղեցի Սբ. Աստվածածին, Կարբի, ArmAg.JPG|Surp Astvatsatsin Church, Karbi, 1693 File:Mesrop Mashtots Church, Oshakan4.jpg|Saint Mesrop Mashtots Church, Oshakan, 1879 File:ԵԿԵՂԵՑԻ Ս. Հովհաննես.jpg|Surp Hovhannes Church, Melikgyugh, 1891 File:Aparan Surb Astvatsatsin church1.JPG|Church of the Holy Mother of God, Aparan, 19th century File:Talin,center-church.jpg|Saint George's Church, Talin, 19th century File:Kosh 29.JPG|Saint Gregory Church, Kosh, 19th century File:Եկեղեցի Սբ. Աստվածածին, Քուչակ, ArmAg (7).JPG|Church of the Holy Mother of God, Kuchak, 1900 Monasteries • Hovhannavank Monastery, Ohanavan, 1216 • Saghmosavank Monastery, Saghmosavan, 1221 • Tegher Monastery near Tegher, 13th century • Saint Gevork Monastery, Mughni, 14th century File:Hovanavank nuages.JPG|Hovhannavank Monastery, Ohannavan, 1216 File:Saghmosavank by Armenak Baghdasaryan photo.jpg|Saghmosavank Monastery, Saghmosavan, 1221 File:Tegher Southeast.JPG|Tegher Monastery near Tegher, 13th century File:Mughni Monastery.jpg|Saint Gevork Monastery, Mughni, 14th century Chapels • Tukh Manuk Shrine, Oshakan, 12-13th centuries • Tukh Manuk Chapel, Mastara, 13th century • Saint Gregory Chapel, Oshakan, 13th century • Saint Thaddeus Chapel, Oshakan, 13th century • Kiraknamut Chapel, Antarut, 13th century • Saint Gregory Chapel, Mastara, 17th century • Surp Narek Chapel, Chknagh, 1830s, rebuilt in 2003 • Chapel of Virgin Sandukht, Talin, 19th century • Surp Minas Chapel, Mastara, 19th century • Chapel of Saints Mary and Elisabeth, Arayi, 2002 • Holy Mother of God Chapel, Yernjatap, 2007 • Holy Mother of God Chapel, Agarak, 2008 • Holy Trinity Altar of Hope, Aparan, 2012 File:Tukh Manuk Shrine.JPG|Tukh Manuk Shrine, Oshakan, 12-13th centuries File:Մաստարայի Թուխ Մանուկ մատուռը.jpg|Tukh Manuk Chapel, Mastara, 13th century File:Oshakan Shrine of Saint Grigor.JPG|Saint Gregory Chapel, Oshakan, 13th century File:Օշական ՄԱՏՈՒՌ ԹԱԴԵՎՈՍ ԱՌԱՔՅԱԼ27-1.JPG|Saint Thaddeus Chapel, Oshakan, 13th century File:Անտառուտ «ԿԻՐԱԿՆԱՄՈՒՏ» ՄԱՏՈՒՌ3-1.JPG|Kiraknamut Chapel, Antarut, 13th century File:Մատուռ Սբ. Գրիգոր, Մաստարա (1).JPG|Saint Gregory Chapel, Mastara, 17th century File:Թալին ՄԱՏՈՒՌ «ՍԱՆԴՈՒԽՏ ԿՈՒ3Ս»9-3.JPG|Chapel of Virgin Sandukht, Talin, 19th century File:Մատուռ Սբ. Մինաս, Մաստարա (5).JPG|Surp Minas Chapel, Mastara, 19th century File:Ապարանի խաչը և խորանը.jpg|Holy Trinity Altar of Hope, Aparan, 2012 ==Inactive/ruined churches and monasteries==

This is an incomplete list of inactive or ruined churches and monasteries in the territory regulated by the Diocese of Aragatsotn: • Saints Paul and Peter Church, Zovuni near Jrambar, 4th-5th centuries • Astvatsenkal Monastery near Hartavan, 4th-5th centuries, • Lusagyugh Red Monastery, Lusagyugh, 5th century • Surp Stepanos Church, Chknagh, 5th century • Holy Saviour's Church of Shenik, Mastara, 5th century • Tsiranavor Church, Ashtarak, 5th century • Tsiranavor Church, Parpi, 5th century • Arshakuni Church of Aghdzk, Aghdzk, 5th century • Holy Mother of God Church of Shenik, Mastara, 6th century • Aruchavank Monastery, Aruch, 660s • Cathedral of Talin, Talin, 7th century • Saint George's Church, Garnahovit, 7th century • Targmanchats Church, Parpi, 7th century • Church of Kamsarakan Surp Astvatsatsin, Talin, 7th century • Saint Christopher Monastery, Dashtadem, 7th century • Artavazik Church, Byurakan, 7th century • Surp Hovhannes Church, Voskevaz, 7th century • Saint Sarkis Monastery, Ushi, 7th century • Tukh Manuk Chapel, Lusagyugh, 7th century • Saint Zion Church, Oshakan, 7th century • Surp Astvatsatsin Basilica, Verin Sasunik, 7th century • Yeghipatrush Church of the Holy Mother of God, Yeghipatrush, 10th century • Vahramashen Church of the Holy Mother of God, Byurakan, 1026 • Tukh Manuk Chapel, Kuchak, 12-13th centuries • Holy Mother of God Church, Yernjatap, 12th-13the centuries • Spitakavor Church, Ashtarak, 13th century • Surp Stepanos Nakhavka Church, Mastara, 17th century • Berkarat Church, Berkarat, 19th century • Holy Mother of God Church, Antarut, 19th century • Saint George's Church, Kosh, 19th century • Saint George's Church, Kuchak, 1891 File:Զովունի 03.jpg|Saints Paul and Peter Church, Zovuni near Jrambar, 4th-5th centuries File:Astvatsankal Monastery 16.jpg|Astvatsenkal Monastery near Hartavan, 4th-5th centuries, File:Red or Mkher Monastery 28.jpg|Lusagyugh Red Monastery, Lusagyugh, 5th century File:Mastara, Settlement Shenik, Surb Amenaprkich Church2.jpg|Holy Saviour's Church of Shenik, Mastara, 5th century File:Tsiranavor church of Ashtarak, front view.jpg|Tsiranavor Church, Ashtarak, 5th century File:Փարպիի Ծիրանավոր եկեղեցի14.JPG|Tsiranavor Church, Parpi, 5th century File:Դամբարան Արշակունյաց թագավորների 47.JPG|Arshakuni Church of Aghdzk, Aghdzk, 5th century File:Շենիկի Սուրբ Աստվածածին3.jpg|Holy Mother of God Church of Shenik, Mastara, 6th century File:Swallows over Aruchavank.jpg|Aruchavank Monastery, Aruch, 660s File:Talin Cathedral.JPG|Cathedral of Talin, Talin, 7th century File:St. Gevorg church Garnahovit 03.JPG|Saint George's Church, Garnahovit, 7th century File:Փարպիի Թարգմանչաց եկեղեցի11.JPG|Targmanchats Church, Parpi, 7th century File:Talin Kamsarakan S. Astvatsatsin.JPG|Church of Kamsarakan Surp Astvatsatsin, Talin, 7th century File:Kristapori Vank 1.JPG|Saint Christopher Monastery, Dashtadem, 7th century File:Artavazik Church Front2.JPG|Artavazik Church, Byurakan, 7th century File:Voskevaz Church1.JPG|Surp Hovhannes Church, Voskevaz, 7th century File:Ushi Monastery.JPG|Saint Sarkis Monastery, Ushi, 7th century File:ՄԱՏՈՒՌ ԹՈՒԽ ՄԱՆՈՒԿ.jpg|Tukh Manuk Chapel, Lusagyugh, 7th century File:1եկեղեցի ս. Սիոն (Մանկանոց ).jpg|Saint Zion Church, Oshakan, 7th century File:Գյուղատեղի Սասունիկ 07.JPG|Surp Astvatsatsin Basilica, Verin Sasunik, 7th century File:Armenian Church in Yeghipatrush.JPG|Yeghipatrush Church of the Holy Mother of God, Yeghipatrush, 10th century File:S.Astvacacin 01.JPG|Vahramashen Church of the Holy Mother of God, Byurakan, 1026 File:Tsiranavor Ashtarak 1.jpg|Spitakavor Church, Ashtarak, 13th century File:Mastara, Surb Stepanos Nakhavka Church.jpg|Surp Stepanos Nakhavka Church, Mastara, 17th century File:Bergarat.jpg|Berkarat Church, Berkarat, 19th century File:Անտառուտ ԵԿԵՂԵՑԻ Ս. ԱՍՏՎԱԾԱԾԻՆ2-11.JPG|Holy Mother of God Church, Antarut, 19th century File:St.gveorkchurch.jpg|Saint George's Church, Kosh, 19th century File:ԵԿԵՂԵՑԻ Ս. ԳԵՎՈՐԳ.JPG|Saint George's Church, Kuchak, 1891 ==References==