Territory Shirak Province Established 31 August 1920 Country Armenia | Rite Armenian Rite Patriarch Karekin II Secular priests 21 | |
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Population
- Total (as of 2016 est.)
192,000 Denomination Armenian Apostolic Church Cathedrals Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God, Gyumri, Gyumri | ||
Social educational center in the diocese of shirak
Diocese of Shirak (Armenian: Շիրակի թեմ Shiraki t'em), is one of the largest dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church covering the northern and middle parts of the Shirak Province of Armenia. It almost covers the entire province except the southern town of Artik and the surrounding villages.
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The diocesan headquarters are located in the city of Gyumri. The seat of the bishop is the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God.
History
The diocese was established on 31 August 1920 by Catholicos George V of Armenia, after the separation from the Araratian Pontifical Diocese. The prelacy building is located on Varpetats Street near the Vartanants Square. It was designed by Hovhannes Katchaznouni and built at the beginning of the 20th century.
On 2 December 2012, the souther town of Artik and the surrounding 23 villages were separated to form the newly-established Diocese of Artik.