St. Mary,A Church with Gothic Architecture

St. Mary,A Church with Gothic Architecture

The second most important and beautiful church in Julfa, the Bethlehem Church was built by Khajeh Petros Velijanian. a wealthy Armenian merchant. ‘The historical book about the Armenians of Julfa reports that Petros could not participate in the religious ceremony that was held in St. Mary’s Church, because it was overcrowded, so he decided to build a new church only a few steps away from there.
The church has an almost quadran-gular plan and is crowned with a double-shelled dome. The structure consists of three parts: an entrance section with a balcony, where newlywed or engaged girls are said to have sat during the ceremonies; a community prayer hall; and an altar, chalice, and two vestries. The building is 26 m high, with the walls 31.5 m long and 14 m high and a dome of 12 m high. The altar is rather small Compared to the general dimensions of the building. The church overlooks the courtyard measuring 480 sq. m, which has two entrances on the north and south sides. Until recently, there were, above the south door, three panels with engraved crosses and an inscription, indicating that they were installed “in the memory of Harutun, pilgrim from Jerusalem, and his family”; however, two of them have been recently plundered.
The golden dome is among the most attractive features of the church. The interior is decorated with tile work and paintings that mainly depict the life of Jesus Christ. The paintings appear in two rows. The lower row presents a continuous sequence; in the upper row, each painting is framed with a fringe of floral design. Altogether, there are 72 paintings, all the work of Armenian craftsmen. The church’s mysterious interior expresses, with powerful effect, a blend of Latin, Russian, and Iranian art.
At present, in a deliberate effort to preserve a building that so far has never been restored, no ceremonies are held in the church. The church treasures include two ancient gospels. dated 1176 and 11 57. To the west of the Bethlehem Church is the family crypt of Khajeh Petros.
Location of St. Mary Church
St. Mary Church is easy to find. Its exact location is in Hakim Nezami Street, Kelisa Avenue. Mehrdad Bus Station is the closest station to this religious site. Furthermore, other attractions in the vicinity of St. Mary Church are St. Bethlehem Church, Isfahan Music Museum, Si-o-se-pol Bridge, Joui Bridge, Khaju Bridge, Vank Cathedral, and Nazhvan Forest Park. Hence, you can consider visiting these sites as well.
History of St. Mary Church
St. Mary Church was built in the 11th century and has been renovated through the following years. The gothic architecture of St. Mary Church was created in 1240. Gothic style has always been at the service of church architecture. It began to become popular before Renaissance and during Humanism. The considerable point about this style is that pointed arches are prominent and they add to the horror effects of the structure. Perhaps the reason for resorting to it in church architecture had been to emphasize the dignity and elegance of those holy places.
Structure of St. Mary Church
The majestic bell tower of St. Mary Church with its particular design tickles your sense of admiration. The brilliant sound it echoes is soothing to the ears. The Art Museum of this church is located right next to it in which there is a unique collection of gold, paintings, vintage antiques, and statues. Therefore, you can enjoy both the church and the museum in a visit.
Where to Eat Near St. Mary Church
Restaurants Near St. Mary Church are as follows: Arabo Sandwich, Hermes Cafe Restaurant, Arc a, Honey, Newsha Italian Restaurant, Nazar Pizza, and Piano Cafe. So you can get to these restaurants whenever you feel hungry.
Where to Stay Near St. Mary Church
Nearest hotels to St. Mary Church are Julfa Hotel (2-Star), Espadana Hotel (3-Star), and Hasht Behesht Hotel (3-Star). Make an online reservation for some nights in one of these hotels if you want to stay in the area.