Ghazanchetsots Cathedral

Ghazanchetsots Cathedral
The cathedral in 2024 after a controversial restoration project undertaken by Azerbaijan
Religion
AffiliationArmenian Apostolic Church
RiteArmenian
Year consecrated20 September 1888
18 June 1998 (reconsecration)
StatusRepaired (2024)
Location
Location19 A. Ghazanchetsots Street, Shusha, Azerbaijan
Shown within Azerbaijan
Ghazanchetsots Cathedral (Karabakh Economic Region)
Coordinates39°45′32″N 46°44′52″E / 39.758819°N 46.747883°E / 39.758819; 46.747883
Architecture
ArchitectSimon Ter-Hakobian(ts)
StyleArmenian
Groundbreaking1868
Completed1887
Specifications
Length34.7 metres (114 ft)
Width23 metres (75 ft)
Height (max)35 metres (115 ft)

Holy Savior Cathedral (Armenian: Սուրբ Ամենափրկիչ մայր տաճար, Surb Amenap′rkich mayr tachar), commonly referred to as Ghazanchetsots (Armenian: Ղազանչեցոց), is an Armenian Apostolic cathedral in Shusha in Azerbaijan. It is the cathedra of the Diocese of Artsakh of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Standing 35 metres (115 ft) high, Ghazanchetsots is one of the largest Armenian churches in the world. A landmark of Shusha and the Karabakh region, and of Armenian cultural and religious identity, it was listed as a cultural and historical monument of the former breakaway Republic of Artsakh.

Built between 1868 and 1887, the cathedral was consecrated in 1888. It was damaged during the March 1920 massacre of the city's Armenians—and the destruction of their half of the city—by Azerbaijanis and experienced a decades-long decline well into the Soviet period. During the first Nagorno-Karabakh War Azerbaijan used the cathedral as an armoury to store hundreds of missiles. The cathedral was extensively restored in the aftermath of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War and reconsecrated in 1998. During the 2020 war, it was damaged by Azerbaijani attacks.

In Azerbaijan, the cathedral is called "Gazanchy" (Azerbaijani: Qazançı) and several media outlets and also authorities have often denied its Armenian heritage, instead vaguely referring to it as "Christian" or falsely labeling it a "Russian Orthodox" edifice. Azerbaijan's "renovation" from 2021 to 2024, was met with criticism and concern by different bodies, due to Azerbaijan removing the canonical roof.