Armenian Cathedral of Mren included in 2014 World Monuments WatchOctober 9, 2013 - 18:55 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A Kars-located Armenian Cathedral of Mren was included in the World Monuments Fund’s (WMF) 2014 World Monuments Watch. Standing on a high plateau, the Cathedral of Mren rises out of the landscape surrounded by the ruined foundations of an ancient settlement. The cathedral was built during the reign of Heraclius in 638 and is associated with the Prince of Armenia and Syria, Dawit’ Saharuni. Constructed during the Byzantine-Persian wars and at the beginning of the Arab conquests, the cathedral represents a moment of creation and collaboration during a time of major destruction. Mren is representative of the churches built in medieval Armenia and Georgia. It is thought to be the largest preserved domed basilica from seventh-century Armenia, built with rubble masonry and decorated with interior frescoes and a ceramic tile roof. Over the centuries the cathedral changed hands, and additions and inscriptions were added to the structure. The settlement ceased to exist after the Turkmen invasions in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, and the cathedral has been abandoned and exposed to the elements for hundreds of years. Mren is in desperate need of documentation and conservation, as its condition has deteriorated dramatically in recent years. The church is in an isolated location in the Kars region of Turkey, and access to the site requires permission from government authorities as it is located within a militarized zone. The south façade has recently collapsed, threatening the structural integrity of the cathedral. Measures need to be taken to stabilize the entire structure if it is to be saved. It is hoped that the Watch will elicit a universal call to action to increase awareness about the site’s regional and global significance, as well as enhance the protection of the site and ensure that the monument will survive for future generations. Related links: Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. |