Baghdasar Arzoumanian (; January 1, 1916 – November 19, 2001) was an Armenian architect and designer based in

Yerevan Yerevan ( , , ; ; sometimes spelled Erevan) is the capital and largest city of Armenia, as well as one of the world's List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerev ...

, Armenia. He designed a large body of civil and religious buildings as well as many smaller works.

Education and background

Arzoumanian was born in

Mutsk Mutsk () is a village in the Sisian Municipality of the Syunik Province in Armenia Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is borde ...

Syunik Province Syunik (, ) is the southernmost province of Armenia. It is bordered by the Vayots Dzor Province to the north, Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic exclave to the west, Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran to the south. Its capital and larg ...

, Armenia. From 1928 to 1936 he studied at the Technical School. In 1938 he was admitted to the Constructions Department of the Institute for Polytechnical Sciences of Yerevan. In 1942 he entered the Soviet army and took part in World War II. He served in the army until 1946 when he returned to Yerevan to continue his studies. He graduated from the Institute in 1949. During his professional career he worked with the Yerevan Project Institute and the Armenian Church headquarters in Etchmiadzin. He died on November 19, 2001, in Yerevan.

Civil buildings

Arzoumanian is the architect of many civil buildings in Armenia. Below are some of his most important buildings: * City hall of Vanadzor and Hotel Gougark in the

Hayk Square Hayk Square ( ''Hayki Hraparak''), is the large central town square in Vanadzor, Armenia. It is intersected by the Tigran Mets Avenue from the southeast the northwest, and the Movses Khorenatsi Street from the northeast. The square was opened du ...

(then known as Kirov Square) of the city of

Vanadzor Vanadzor (, ) is an urban municipal community and the third largest city in Armenia, serving as the capital of Lori Province in the northern part of the country. It is located about north of the capital Yerevan. As of the 2011 census, the city h ...

, completed during the 1950s (co-architect: Hovhannes Margarian). * Erebuni Museum (1968, co-architect: Shmavon Azatian). * Museum dedicated to 2450th anniversary of establishment of

Samarkand Samarkand ( ; Uzbek language, Uzbek and Tajik language, Tajik: Самарқанд / Samarqand, ) is a city in southeastern Uzbekistan and among the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central As ...

, Uzbekistan (now the Samarkand Museum of History) * Metro Station "David of Sasoun", (co-architects: Sargis Nersisian and Areg Israyelian). * Degustation Hall of the Yerevan Brandy Factory (co-architects: Sargis Nersisian and Hasmik Alexanian). * Yerevan Cable-way Station. File:Vanadzor-Qaghaqapetaran.jpg, City hall of

File:Vanadzor - Hotel Gougark on the Central Square.jpg, Hotel Gougark in

Arzoumanian is architect or co-architect of the RA Police building in

, various apartment buildings, reconstruction of Moscow Cinema in Yerevan. He is the architect of memorials to the victory in World War II in various parts of

Armenia Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...

Etchmiadzin (1956–2001)

Early works

* Vanatoon (Monastic Residence) – 1978 * Alex and Marie Manoogian Museum – 1982 File:Alex and Marie Manoogian Museum.jpg, Alex and Marie Manoogian Museum at the Mother See.

Design works

Khachkars and memorials

Arzoumanian designed many

khachkar A ''khachkar'' (also spelled as ''khatchkar'') or Armenian cross-stone (, , խաչ ''xačʿ'' "cross" + քար ''kʿar'' "stone") is a carved, memorial stele bearing a cross, and often with additional motifs such as rosette (design), rosettes ...

s (Armenian stone crosses) and memorials. Many of them are in Etchmiadzin (i.e. the Motherland-Diaspora Memorial). He is also the architect of a memorial in the monastery of

Geghard Geghard (, meaning "spear") is a medieval monastery in the Kotayk province of Armenia, being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with enhanced protection status. Wh ...

, and a memorial and khachkars next to the Prelacy of the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese. File:Khackar next to the prelacy of the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese.JPG, Khachkar next to the Prelacy of the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese File:Khachkar at the Prelacy.JPG, Khachkar next to the Prelacy of the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese File:Prelacy Khachkar - Baghdasar Arzoumanian.JPG, Khachkar next to the Prelacy of the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese File:Armenia-Diaspora Memorial.jpg, Arzoumanian at the Motherland-Diaspora Memorial in Etchmiadzin

Jewellery works

His Golden Alphabet (1976) and Golden Cross (1979) are kept in the Pontifical Residence of the

Catholicos of All Armenians The Catholicos of All Armenians () is the chief bishop and spiritual leader of Armenia's national church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the worldwide Armenian diaspora. The Armenian Catholicos (plural Catholicoi) is also known as the Armenian ...

. Among his other works are: * State Emblem of the Soviet Armenia (1981) * Souvenir dedicated to the 30th anniversary of service of Vasken I,

(1985) The list also includes various crosiers, rings, the liturgical dressing of the

. Arzoumanian is the designer of catholicosal medals St. Gregory the Illuminator, St. Sahak – St. Mesrop, and St. Nerses Shnorhali ( Nerses the Gracious). File:Golden Alphabet.jpg, Golden Alphabet of Baghdasar Arzoumanian File:Golden Cross.jpg, Golden Cross of Baghdasar Arzoumanian File:Skih.jpg, Chalice of the

(1965) File:Asan---1962.jpg, Crosier () of the

(1962) File:PATRIARCHAL APOSTOLIC PANAGIA.jpg , Patriarchal Panagia File:Medal---St-Gregory-the-Illuminator.jpg, St. Gregory the Illuminator Medal of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin File:Medal---St-Sahak-St-Mesrop.jpg, St. Sahak – St. Mesrop Medal of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin File:Medal---Nerses-Shnorhali.jpg, St. Nerses Shnorhali Medal of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

Interior design

Baghdasar Arzoumanian is the author of the Throne Hall of the

=Iconostases

= Besides iconostases of the churches of his own design, Arzoumanian is the author of the iconostases of following churches: * St. Sarkis Vicarial Church of

, Armenia (authors of renovation: Rafayel Israyelian and Artsrun Galikyan), * St. Catherine Armenian Church of

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...

, Russia.

Graphical works

Arzoumanian also designed graphics which include the design of ''Etchmiadzin Monthly'', Catholicosal Decrees, and book designs. He is the graphical designer and the author of the text of the book "Armenian Churches".

Tombstones

Baghasar Arzoumanian designed the tombstones of: *

Vazgen I Vazgen I also Vazken I of Bucharest (), born Levon Garabed Baljian (; September 20, 1908 – August 18, 1994) was the Catholicos of All Armenians between 1955 and 1994, for a total of 39 years, the 4th longest reign in the history of the Armenian ...

, * Karekin I,

, *

Saint Mesrob Mesrop Mashtots (; , ' 362February 17, 440 AD) was an Armenian linguist, composer, theologian, statesman, and hymnologist. He is venerated as a saint in the Armenian Apostolic Church. He is best known for inventing the Armenian alphabet AD, ...

Mashtots. File:Tomb of Vasken I - Catholicos of All Armenians.JPG, Tombstone of

File:Tomb of Karekin I.jpg, Tombstone of Karekin I File:Tomb of St Mesrop Mashtots in Oshakan.JPG, Tombstone of St.

Mesrop Mashtots Mesrop Mashtots (; , ' 362February 17, 440 AD) was an Armenians, Armenian Linguistics, linguist, composer, Christian theology, theologian, Politician, statesman, and Hymnology, hymnologist. He is venerated as a saint in the Armenian Apostolic C ...

Other works

Baghdasar Arzoumanian is the author of the "Dpratoun" building in Oshakan, Armenia. He is also the designer of the entrance door of the Residence of the

Churches

Baghdasar Arzoumanian is the architect of 8 Armenian churches and 2 renovation projects.

Renovation projects

Arzoumanian is the author of renovation of the following churches: * St. John the Baptist Church of

(entire renovation and the bell-tower), * St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of the Kinali Island,

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

. File:St John The Baptist Church of Yerevan.jpg, St. John the Baptist Church of Yerevan.

New churches

Arzoumanian is the architect of the following churches: * St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church in

Odesa Odesa, also spelled Odessa, is the third most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city and List of hromadas of Ukraine, municipality in Ukraine and a major seaport and transport hub located in the south-west of the country, on the northwestern ...

, Ukraine (1995), * St. Sarkis Church of Nork District of

, Armenia (1999), * Holy Resurrection Church of Nerkin Dvin, Armenia, * Holy Resurrection Church of

Spitak Spitak (), is a town and urban municipal community in the northern Lori Province of Armenia. It is north of the capital, Yerevan, and west of the provincial center, Vanadzor. Spitak was entirely destroyed during the devastating 1988 Armenian e ...

, Armenia (1999), * Holy Martyrs Church of Kashatagh,

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Artsakh ( ), officially the Republic of Artsakh or the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh ( ), was a list of states with limited recognition, breakaway state in the South Caucasus whose territory was internationally recognised as part of Azerbai ...

(2002, the church was consecrated after his death), * St. Hakob (James) Church of

Gyumri Gyumri (, ) is an urban municipal community and the List of cities and towns in Armenia, second-largest city in Armenia, serving as the administrative center of Shirak Province in the northwestern part of the country. By the end of the 19th centur ...

, Armenia (2002, the church was consecrated after his death), * St. Hakob (James) Church of the Vaskenian Theological Academy near

Sevan, Armenia Sevan ( ) is a town as well as one of the most popular resorts in Armenia, located in the Sevan Municipality of the Gegharkunik Province on the northwestern shores of Lake Sevan. The town is built at a height of more than above sea level, nor ...

* Holy Trinity Church of

, Armenia (2005, the church was consecrated after his death). File:Surb Grigor church in Odessa.jpg, St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church in

File:Nor Nork St. Sarkis Church.jpg, St. Sarkis Church of Nork District of

File:Holy Martyrs Church of Kashatagh.jpg, Holy Martyrs Church of Kashatagh File:Vazgenian Theological Seminary.JPG, St. Hakob (James) Church of the Vaskenian Theological Academy near Sevan

Medals and awards

* St. Gregory the Illuminator Medal * Golden Medal of the Academy of Arts of the USSR (1991)Se
Golden Medal of the Academy of Arts of the USSR
(Russian). * Title of Merited Constructor of Armenia (1966) Arzoumanian also holds medals for his military career during World War II (2nd Order Medal of the Patriotic War, Red Star Medal, Medal of Honour, Medal of Bravery, Medal for Victory against Germany, Medal for Taking Kyoniksberg, Medal of Marshal Baghramian).

Gallery

Image:Architectural-Commission-of-the-Mother-See-(1970-1988).jpg, Architectural Commission of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin (1970–1988).
First row from left: Varazdat Harutyunyan,

, K. Altunyan
Second row from left: Arzoumanian, H. Babakhanian,

Grigor Khanjyan Grigor Khanjyan (; 29 November 1926 – 19 April 2000) was a Soviet and Armenian artist, painter, and illustrator. He is most notable for his illustrations of historical novels and poems, and murals and tapestries on historical topics. In 1983 Kha ...

, A. Galikyan, M. Hovhannisyan Image:Veharan-Door.jpg, Entrance door of the

Catholicos A catholicos (plural: catholicoi) is the head of certain churches in some Eastern Christian traditions. The title implies autocephaly and, in some cases, it is the title of the head of an autonomous church. The word comes from ancient Greek ( ...

's residence (Arzoumanian and

are at left) Image:BaghdasarArzoumanianWithVHarutyunyanAndHHKarekinI.jpg, Arzoumanian and Varazdat Harutyunyan after receiving the St. Gregory the Illuminator Medal from Karekin I Image:Bagdasar Arzoumanian.jpg, Arzoumanian File:Baghdasar Arzoumanian Memorial.jpg, Memorial on the wall of the building where he lived from 1958-2001 (designed by Getik Baghdasaryan)

Bibliography

* There are 30 bibliographical references in the book of Varazdat Harutyunyan devoted to Baghdasar Arzoumanian: . * *
Google Translation

Films

* *

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arzoumanian, Baghdasar 1916 births 2001 deaths Architects from Yerevan People from Syunik Province Soviet architects