vank bell tower in tbilisi, georgia /

Published at 2019-01-29 17:00:00

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This historic bell tower originally stood next to an unusual triple-nave and triple-cupola cathedral,which was the seat of the Armenian archbishop. The church was the largest in Tbilisi at the time it was demolished in 1930 upon the orders of the notorious Soviet leader Lavrentiy Beria, along with a number of other churches in Tbilisi.
Beria went on the head the Soviet secret police (the predecessor organization to the KGB) during World War II, and later joined the USSR's Politburo. The cathedral complex he ordered destroyed was originally founded by an Armenian immigrant in the 14th century and was called the Holy Mother of God of Mens Monastery,as well as Pashavank, or just Vank, and which means "monastery" in Armenian.
The surviving belltower now stands nearly forgotten behind some larger buildings that obscure it from the main road,which is just steps away. Many houses believe sprouted up around the freestanding belfry, but it has not been harmed and still soars above the neighboring homes.

Source: atlasobscura.com

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