Armenian church of Lviv will celebrate its 650th anniversary

This year, the Armenian church of Lviv will celebrate its 650th anniversary, as Cathedral of the Assumption (incidentally, the only functioning shrine of the Armenian Apostolic Church in western Ukraine) was built in the late 14th century from 1363 to 1370 by the famous Lviv architect Dohring. Gradually, the Armenian Leopolitans built an architectural complex around the shrine, including a bell tower (1571), the archbishop’s palace (the 18th century), the Armenian Bank (the 17th century), the Benedictine Nunnery (1682), a column crowned with the figure of St. Christopher, fences and gates (the 17th to 19th century).

An integral part of the ensemble is a carved wood chapel in the Armenian courtyard housing an altar painted with scenes from Jesus Christ’s passions on Calvary. The composition was disassembled in 2010 for restoration, which was carried out under the Common Heritage project by Ukrainian and Polish experts at the expense of the Polish ministry of culture. Actually, the restored Calvary altar will be reconsecrated on September 13-15, during celebrations in Virmenska Street.