Surb Nshan, Javakhk | Սուրբ Նշան, Ջավախք | Сурб Ншан, Джавахк

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| Surb Nshan | http://SurbNshan.Javakhk1915-23.com

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| Contents |

| Contents | ...................................................................................................2

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The Surb Nshan Project (English)................................................................................... 24Contents in English ......................................................................................................... 24Introduction..................................................................................................................... 25The earliest information about the church .......................................................................... 26Construction of the new church building ............................................................................ 27Solemn consecration of the new building in 1864 .............................................................. 29Lapidary inscriptions ........................................................................................................ 31St. Nshan as a religious center......................................................................................... 33

Vardanants School .......................................................................................................... 34Church property .............................................................................................................. 35St. Nshan in Soviet years................................................................................................. 36Latest developments around St. Nshan ............................................................................. 37Distribute information about Surb Nshan............................................................................ 39

()................................................................................... 41................................................................................................. 41....................................................................................................................... 42............................................................................. 43............................................................................. 44 1864 ......................................................... 46 ..................................................................................................... 48. ................................................................................... 50 .......................................................................................................... 51......................................................................................................... 52. ............................................................................................ 53 . ............................................................. 54 .............................................................................56

| Photos | .........................................................................................58Poster............................................................................................................................................71

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.http://SurbNshan.Javakhk1915-23.com

http://SurbNshan.Javakhk1915-23.com/J15-23_surb_nshan/Surb_Nshan.pdf

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The Surb Nshan Project (English)

Contents in English

The Surb Nshan Project (English) ............................................................................................ 24

Contents in English ..................................................................................................................... 24

Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 25

The earliest information about the church................................................................................... 26

Construction of the new church building ..................................................................................... 27

Solemn consecration of the new building in 1864...................................................................... 29

Lapidary inscriptions.................................................................................................................... 31

St. Nshan as a religious center................................................................................................... 33

Vardanants School ...................................................................................................................... 34

Church property........................................................................................................................... 35

St. Nshan in Soviet years............................................................................................................ 36

Latest developments around St. Nshan ...................................................................................... 37

Distribute information about Surb Nshan .................................................................................... 39


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Introduction

St. Nshan church in Akhaltskha (Zarehnu Surb Nshan, i. e. Holy Sign Church, or St.

Vardanants) is one of the most important churches in Lower Javakhk (Samtskhe).It was taken from the Armenian Apostolic Church in 1938 (see below), and theproblem of its return still is not solved. Recent Armenian-Georgian disputes aroundsome churches stress importance of unbiased study of this problem.

The first aim of the Surb Nshan project is to collect material about St. Nshan fromvarious sources and to present them in the Internet for maximally wide access. Thenext aim is translation of the material to English and Russian to present the issue tobroader audience (we also prepare French and Georgian translations).

We hope this material will also help Georgian readers to understand how important

is St. Nshan for Armenians, and how harmful and unpromising are attempts of itskartvelisation. The Georgian people has such a historical heritage that doesntneed to be enriched by a church, the Armenian origin of which is more thenconvincingly documented.

Sometimes the political situation pushes to do historical mistakes (such as: seizingof many churches in the Soviet years of fighting atheism). But sometimes poeticaldevelopment allows to correct the mistakes done (such as: the spiritual rebirth ofthe last Soviet years allowed to restore thousands of churches in Armenia, Georgia,Russia and elsewhere). But if one doesnt use those opportunities to correctmistakes, the mistakes get even worst. In 1990 the attempts to return St. Nshanwent I a very unexpected way (see below). Thus, the problem created in 1938 did

no receive a solution in 1990, but yet received one more layer, which reflectedthe nationalist issues of the collapsing USSR.

Now, twenty years after the events of 1990 we again have the same problem tosolve. And it depends on us if we solve it or add one more layer to it.

The main source of historical information for the project was the valuablemonography of Samvel Karapetian Akhaltskha. A few other sources also are used.Information on the newest period is based on testimonials of eyewitnesses. TheRussian text is prepared by Pandukht. The English version and edition are done byKars. Photos are taken by Armenian Youth Center in Akhaltskha. The project

concept, Armenian text, design and programming are done by Javakhk1915-23.com site.

The authors of this project invite to cooperation everybody, who has information,document, photos of St. Nshan. Your material will be published with yourcontribution acknowledged.


Akhalkalak - Akhaltskha - Yerevan - Los Angeles, 2009


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The earliest information about the church

Zarehnu St. Nshan (St. Vardanants),Church of Saint Sign of Zarehni,

Church of Saint Vardan is a domedchurch. It is located in a picturesquehill in Marda quarter of AkhaltskhaCity (Lower Javakhk).

The exact date of its founding is not

known for certain. One of the first

references to the church dates back

to 1575: In the year of 1024 o

Armenian calendar (1575) one

pilgrim (to Jerusalem) Mkrtich

arrives to the doors of Akhaltskhas

St. Nshan for worshipping, erects a

new altar and leaves a notation

about it, asking to be remembered

in the liturgy.(1)

Information about the following restoration of the church is found in a note, writtenin 1619 and attached to a manuscript, dated 1445: And Gods Church of SaintSign, destructed by infidels long time ago, has been restored. In the samemanuscript it is noted, that This memorandum is written in the capital city of

Akhaltskha, under the auspices of Zarehnu St. Nshan(2). In the same year of

1619, the following was donated to the Church: two crosses, one beautiful gold-embroidered chasuble with complete vestment, one cilice, one cover for the ambon,

one censer(3).

It is noteworthy that the locationof the church (and sometimes ofthe entire hill) in Akhaltskha wascalled Surb Nshaneven after thedemolition of the old church.Moreover, the people would callthe church Surb Nshan evenafter a new church building was

erected in 1864 and officiallyconsecrated as St. Vardanants(Saint Vardan the Warrior).

Akhaltskha in 19th century

(1) Hakobian, P., To reasonability (in Armenian), St. Echmiadzin, p. 51.

(2) Armenian manuscripts of 17th century (in Armenian), A, Yerevan, 1976, p. 687.

(3) Same place.


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Construction of the new church building

Past two and a half centuries, by the middle of the 19th century, the hill where St.

Nshan was located was still called St. Nshan (4), even though the original oldchurch, within the last two centuries, turned into ruins, not subject to restoration.

As reported by Russkiy Vestnik in 1862, In the city of Akhaltskha, on the location

called Surb Nshan, the construction of the church of St. Vardan the warrior has

begun(5).

Project of St. Nshan church (St.

Vardanants) in Akhaltskha (the

original of the project is kept in

NAA (National Archive of Arme-

nia, . 53, . 1, . 125, . 5).

The permit for the construction of the church,

with project authorization, was issued in 1861

(6). All expenses of the construction were

financed by the Honorary Citizen of AkhaltskhaVardan Vardanyants. The Russkiy Vestnik

informs: by the expense of righteous civil

servant, nobleman, pilgrim Vardan Vardanyants,

and by his advice, the Diocese vicar in the city,

vardapet Grigor Saginyants asked and received

the grace of Saint Echmiadzins Sacred Synod to

permit the income of the new church be assigned

for the education of poor students ov the local

College(7).

This is what writes about it Meghu Hayastani, in

1864: Year by year the need for a church was

sensed, but none of the plans nurtured by the

spiritual authorities realized, for the lack of

financial means.

Everybody was hoping for a patron, who would undertake this big task, inspired by

piety. [] devoted citizen of Akhaltskha, warrant officer Vardan Vardanyants, one

of the Erzerum migrants, who, on his own expense, built the notorious and

beautiful stone church on the sanctuary called Surb Nshan(8).


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The churchs foundation ceremony was attended

by Armenian clergy, representatives of the

Armenian Catholic, Georgian, Russian clergy,

notorious public figures. During the ceremony

Father Grigor vardapet Saginyan noted, that thetemple is being built specificly on these ruins

since, according to the tradition, thats where

the old church was (9).

The construction work lasted a little over two

years and was completed in 1864.

Exterior of the church is a rectangular composition with triple-pitched central dome,

which was widely accepted by the Armenian church architecture of Middle Ages. It

is built by finely ground stone, the interior walls are plastered. Its height is 5.

length is 7,5, width is 5,5 cubits, wall width 5 spans. The temple has three

entrances from the northern, southern and western facades, and two pairs of

interior pylons, as well as vestries to the both sides of the altar. The hexagonal

drum, which rises to pointed spire, is supported by vaulted archs rested on

columns. A three-storied bell tower is attached to the western faade, which is

standing on four columns on the level of the first and second stories, and on sixcolumns on the level of the third storey. External measurements are: 15,35 x

10,83 m. Materials of Caucasus archeology (19th c.) says the following, regarding

the architectural appearance of the church: On the top of the hill, over the

fortress, there is a new Armenian church, in the style of Echmiadzin temple, with

deck-through and lateral bell towers (10).

(4) (The list of Armenian manuscripts of private

personalities, in Armenian) , , . 13, , 1980, p. 331.(5) (, "Russian News"), 1862, N 27, p. 3.

(6) NAA (National Archive of Armenia), . 56, . 1, q. 6228, papers 33-34.

(7) (, "Russian News"), 1862, N 27, p. 3.

(8) Hazarapetiants, I., Solemn consecration of St. Vardan church in Akhaltskha (in

Armenian), "Mekhu Hayastani", 1864, N 18, p. 148.

(9) "Mekhu Hayastani", 1862, N 27, p. 107.

(10) Archeological materials of Caucasus, issue IV, p. 75 (in the original: "...

, ,

...").


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Solemn consecration of the new building

in 1864

The solemn inauguration took place on February 27, 1864. This important event isdescribed by its participant Isahak Hazarapetyants.

The conduction of the solemn ceremony was scheduled for February 27, i.e. on

Pancake Friday, when the Armenian Church celebrates St. Vardanants holyday; in

the evening of the church celebration, the Akhaltskha vicar bishop Grigor

appropriately dressed and with all church brethren exited the St. Savior Church

and headed towards the newly built temple.

Following the clerical procession there were people of Akhaltskha and artisans,

visiting from other places to celebrate the occasion, standing along the road, on

both sides of it, with their banners it was a glamorous scene; the sunrays, as if togive more splendor to this sight, breaking through reddish clouds, reflected on gold

and silver sacred cruets; the bell rings blended with sweet chorus of psalm

chanting, roofs and windows of the houses on both sides of the passing procession

were filled with more or less festively dressed women and children. Upon

approaching the new church, the clergy conducted evening liturgy on the eve of the

upcoming holyday. And on February 27, at 10 oclock in the morning, in the

presence of all civil and military ranks who were invited by the builder of the

church, Mr. Vardanyants His Holiness bishop Grigor, accompanied with clergy,

conducted the consecration of the church and christened it by the name of Great

Martyr Saint Vardan the Warrior


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Floorplan of the church according

to the project (1861) and the

finalized building (measurements

by S. Hakobyan)

Prophetic words sounded in the speech of

Isahak Hazarapetyants, which described Surb

Nshan in the best way possible:

(We built this beautifultemple, and it has become a place of holiness

and remembrance for us...) (11).

The construction of the new church actually

became a significant event for Armenians o

Akhaltskha.

Tombstones of Akhaltskhas Honorary Citizen Vardan Vardanyants and his

spouse.

(11) Hazarapetiants, I., the cited source, p. 149. See also ", 27 1864..."

(in Armenian).


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Lapidary inscriptions

No lapidary inscriptions preserved from the older building of St. Nshan before 1864.The existing inscriptions are related to the newer building only. Lapidary inscription

on the eastern faade of St. Nshan (St. Vardanants) church.

There is an inscription in 9 lines on the eastern faade:

,

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1861 1863 1868 .

This temple of the Lord, exuberating in the name of St. Vardanants,

which was erected by Vardan Vardanyants, on his own expense,

for ever-living memory of his soul and the souls of his beloved:

father Aghabab, mother Taguhi honorable parents,

wife Maryam, brother Stepanos, sister Peprone,

his son, a nobleman Hamazasp, daughter Gayane,

daughter-in-law Eranuhi and the uncle mahtesi Hakob,

newborn grandchildren: the elder Hmayak, the younger Vardan.Started in the year of 1861 and consecrated in 1863 and completed in

1868.


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The inscription in 8 lines on the northern faade:

( ) ( ) ( )

( )

( ) ( )

,

( )

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

Under the supreme supervision of Lords powers,

this temple of Saint Vardanats was erected

in memory of honorable house of Vardanyants,

by diligent contribution of the same Vardanyants,

which shall rest, with eternal hope,

at this holy Armenian church.

During the patriarchate of His Holyness, elected Catholicos Matthew the

First

and the vicar bishop Grigoris, from Saginyan family.

The inscription on the northern faade wasdestroyed during partial repair work in 1970-ies(photo 1988).


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St. Nshan as a religious center

From 1864 the priest of the church was

Hovhannes Arvanyants (12).

On January 13, 1879, Deacon Tigran

Sisakyants was consecrated as the priest of

the church, before that he served in

Vardanyan School for ten years (13).

In 1888 the ktitor of the church was

Alexander Borakchyants (14).

In 1904 two priests of the church are

mentioned: Gevorg Ter-Sisakyants

(consecrated as priest in 1879) and Minas

Aznavuryan (October 11, 1897) (15).

In 1897 the parish of St. Vardanants church consisted of 347 homes, out of which

246 were served by priest Gevorg Sisakyants and 91 by gray-haired priest Grigor

Vanandyants.

(12) Matenadaran, pap. 157, doc. 276, p. 52.

(13) Mekhu Hayastani , 1879, N 7, p. 4.

(14) Ararat, 1888, p. 510.

(15) NAA (National Archive of Armenia), . 53, . 1, . 795, . 29, 66.


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Vardanants School

National benefactors, the Vardanyants, started to take steps in opening of an

Armenian school as soon as 1864, in order for the children of that location, who

cannot overcome long distance because of being far away from the other part of

the town, did not remain deprived of science and faith(16). However, as attested

by the schools construction inscription, which was miraculously preserved in the

Akhaltskha Fortress museum, the school was founded in 1865.

The inscription regarding the foundation of St. Vardanants boys school (presently

inside a mosque, turned to a museum):

[ ] ( )

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In 1866, Akhaltskhas hereditary honorary citizen Hamazasp Vardanyants

constructs the school building, spending 8000 rubles of his own money and

allocates 1000 rubles annually for the maintenance of the establishment (17).

In the school, they were learning reading, arithmetic, Law of God, Armenian and

Russian calligraphy, morals and singing. In 1869 the teachers of the school were:

Hovhannes Hakobyants, Meliksedek Mkrtchyan, Tigran Sisakyants, Ghazaros

Baghdasaryants and priest Martiros Metsatunyants. The school was supported by

the means of St. Nshan church (18), and by the means of the founder. According

to Garegin Ghazinyants, by the August of 1868 the school had one prep class, first

and second grades, 4 teachers (19).

In 1872 the inhabitants of Marda district of Akhaltskha city send a letter to the

Catholicos of All Armenians Gevorg IV, where they note the work of the school in


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particular and ask him to distinguish the benefactor with some kind of incentive

(20).

Martiros Dzitoghtsyan visits the school in 1875 and, having felt pleased and

satisfied by the achievements of the students, praises them and donates 50 silverrubles for obtaining stationery (21).

However, due to material causes the school closes down after few years, in 1884.

During the years of 1864-1884 the school had 90 to 160 students per year.

(16) Matenadaran, pap. 157, doc. 275, p. 51.

(17) NAA (National Archive of Armenia), . 355, . 1, . 329, . 3.

(18) Mekhu Hayastani, 1868, N 36, p. 275.

(19) Same place.

(20) NAA (National Archive of Armenia), . 56, . 1, . 6228, . 2.

(21) Ararat, 1875, August, p. 319.

Church property

St. Nshan church owned tax exempt real estate

property (see details in the Armenian version).

The following is a short description of the church

property. According to property inventories,

conducted on May 27, 186, and February 15, 1875,

the church owned: the adjacent lot, the school (built

in 1864), two cists (given as a gift by Vardan

Vardanyants), one-storey stone building with

adjacent lot, a portion of a fruit orchard and a garden

(given as a gift by Arakel Saginyants), a grain barn

(built in 1869), two hides of farm land, acquired on

September 2, 1868 by bishop Grigor Saginyants and

donated by him to the church school (22).

(22) NAA (National Archive of Armenia), . 53, . 1, . 125, . 40-40.


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St. Nshan in Soviet years

In 1938, by the decision of Soviet government authorities, church services in St.

Nshan were prohibited. Despite this, the church continued to function up to 1941.

In 1941-1943 the church was used as a warehouse for military uniforms, in 1943-

1949 as a storage for general content, and from 1949 to 1970 as salt

warehouse.

Akhaltskha. View of St. Nshan (St.

Vardanants) church from north-

east (photo of 1960-ies)

In March of 1957, in a memorandum

report, sent to the Chairman of the

Council of Religious Affairs of the Council

of Ministers of the USSR, an authorized

person from a similar Council in Georgia,

Shalutashvili, reports, that AkhaltskhasSt. Nishan Armenian church was built in

1840. The floor space of the church

building is 107 square meters. From the

moment of closing of the church, the

building up to present time is used as

district archive. In 1956, the District

Executive Committee installed special

two-layer wooden shelves inside the

church building for safekeeping o

archival material; a working room for the

district archive employees was also built.Total amount of 15 thousand rubles was

spent for all of this(23).

In the 70-ies the church was partially restored and then it was used as the District

Council building; in the process of said restoration the lapidary inscription

disappeared from the tympanum of the northern entrance (24).

In 1976-1978 representatives of the towns Armenian community and priests

brothers Ruben and Shmavon Saghoyans cleaned up the church and were

eventually fined by the authorities, for doing that. The church was still not returned

to the Armenian people and later became the district Museum of Ethnography

(Museum of Friendship of Nations).

(23) (Proc. of Arm. Archives) , 2001, N 1, p. 91 (in original: " ".

" 1840 . 107

. ,

. 1956

,

. 15 ").

(24) Karapetyan, S., Marutyan, A., Nahatakyan, R., St. Vardananc church (St. Nshan) in

Akhaltskha (in Russian).


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Latest developments around St. Nshan

With beginning of the end of the Soviet era, the process of returning of church

buildings, expropriated from the faithful during the Soviet years, also began.

Thousands of churches were returned to true owners in Armenia, Georgia, Russia.

This process also touched many churches in Javakhk. Unfortunately, unforeseen

problems aroused in connection with St. Nshan the process of returning of an

Armenian temple, belonging to the Armenian Apostolic Church, became a hostage

of inter-ethnic intolerance, which swept through Georgia during the rule of

nationalist president Zviad Gamsakhurdia.

On April 24, 1990, Armenians of

Akhaltskha were marking the 75th

anniversary of the Genocide of

Armenians in 1915-1923. The

mourning procession peacefully

entered the St. Nshan church. They

took out museum exhibit items and

placed a church bell (earlier priest

Ruben had received permission for

returning of St. Nshan, from the

Chairman of the District Executive

Committee Otari Jinchveladze). The

mourning procession turned into a

spontaneous, perpetual rally at the

church.

Unfortunately, certain circles in Georgia took it with hostility (towering on a hill, St.

Nshan dominates over the city and has a symbolic significance for the city). Roads,

conncting Akhaltskha with Armenia and with Akhalkalak were cordoned off, the post

was blocked. Rumors were intentionally spread throughout Georgia, claiming that

Armenians blew up a Georgian school in Akhaltskha, that there are numerous

victims, many dead children Armed forces were started pulling in to Akhaltskha.

There were up to 1000-1500 Armenians at St. Nshan church, everybody unarmed. But according to witnesses, in the center of the city, by a hotel, more

than 5000-6000 Georgians have gathered, many of them armed. There was a

real threat of inter-ethnic clash. Fortunately, Armenians and Georgians were

successful, with the help of negotiations, in subduing the emotions, and the rallies

dispersed peacefully.

Practically, Akhaltskha Armenians did not receive any help from outside. Even

Armenian Apostolic Church did not take any steps for returning its own church St.

Nshan. This atmosphere of indifference allowed the authorities to punish the

movement activists in Akhaltskha. Many influential Armenians of the city lost theiremployment, some even had to leave Javakhk.


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Moreover, someone even cooked up a new Georgian name for the church

Iovane Natlismtsemeli (John the Baptist). Simultaneously it was declared a

monument of Georgian culture, as well as the famous educational complex at St.

Nshan. In April of 2005 gravestones with Georgian-language inscriptions appeared

in the churchyard (25).

In January of 2002 the relief hollows of the lapidary inscription on the eastern

faade were outlined with black paint by unknown persons, and as a result it looked

like new. To identify the perpetrators was impossible, but a professor, Doctor of

Historical Sciences Tina Ivelashvili decklared: It has become known to us, from

confidential sources, that this inscription was carved by the members of illegal

organization Javakhk, by direct orders from Yerevan. She also announced that

before there was no lapidary inscription on the church at all (26) (see details in

(27)).

In April of 2004 next to St. Nshan church a Khachkar was installed in memory of

victims of the Genocide of Armenians in 1915-1923. However, some time later the

Khachkar was dismantled by Georgian law enforcement personnel, allegedly

because of the absence of a permit for such installation, even though there was

such a permit. And only a day prior to the opening (April 24), all problems

regarding the installation of the monument were successfully resolved.

Fortunately, there are Georgian public figures, who accept historical realities. For

example, Georgian ombudsman Sozar Subari, after visiting Akhaltskha, announced:

After seeing St. Nshan church, I personally have absolutely no doubts that it is anArmenian church both by the architecture and by the essence. In any case, the

ownership of St. Nshan church can be established within a week(28).

(25) "", 2003, N 4, p. 14. These attempts were answered in the Armenian press

(, , , "", 22.02.2003, p.3,

in Russian; Karapetyan, S. -..., , 8.02.-2006, No

8, in Armenian).

(26) Karapetyan, S., Marutyan, A., Nahatakyan, R., cites source, p. 85.

(27) "", 2004, N 2, in Georgian.

(28) , 02.03.2006, N 38, in Armenian.


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:http://SurbNshan.Javakhk1915-23.com

PDF-.

:

http://SurbNshan.Javakhk1915-23.com/J15-23_surb_nshan/Surb_Nshan.pdf

. PDF-:

http://SurbNshan.Javakhk1915-23.com/J15-23_surb_nshan/poster_banner/Sub_Nshan_Poster.pdf

.

-:


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. .

-:


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| Photos |

Photos from the book of Samvel Karapetyan "Akhaltskha"


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Photos from Armenian Youth Center in Akhaltskha

www.Akhaltskha.net


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Poster

Surb Nshan

Surb Nshan, Javakhk | Սուրբ Նշան, Ջավախք | Сурб Ншан, Джавахк

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