Yot Verk Church
19th-century church on Vardanants Square
- Area Shirak
- Type Religious site
- Time needed 20m
Yot Verk, the Church of the Holy Mother of God, stands on Vardanants Square in the centre of Gyumri and dates from the 19th century. Its name refers to the Seven Wounds of the Virgin, and it is the main working church of the city.
Open in the planner →Getting there
About 124 km from Yerevan, roughly 2h 15m of driving to Gyumri; the church is in the middle of town and reached on foot once you are there.
What you see
The exterior is dark local stone with a tall belfry and arcaded porches, a style that belongs to 19th-century Gyumri rather than to medieval Armenia. Inside are painted decoration and an icon of the Virgin that gives the church its name. The square outside, with its civic buildings and earthquake memorial, is part of the visit.
What to pair it with
It is a few minutes from the Black Fortress, the Dzitoghtsyan museum and Gyumri's old streets.
When to go
Visit around a service for the atmosphere, or outside one for a quiet look. The square is pleasant in the evening.
What is hard about it
Twenty minutes covers it. The church was damaged in the 1988 earthquake and the repairs are visible, and anyone who has seen Armenia's medieval churches may find the 19th-century work less rewarding.
Common questions
What does the name mean?
Yot Verk means seven wounds, referring to the sorrows of the Virgin Mary, and derives from the icon kept in the church.
Are there opening hours?
It is a working church open through the day, but hours are not posted reliably. [VERIFY — confirm current details]
Can I photograph inside?
Discretion is expected and flash is not appropriate during services. Ask if staff are present.
Nearby
- Marmashen Monastery10th-century monastery in the Akhurian valley
- Harichavank7th-century monastery near Artik
- Holy Saviour's ChurchGyumri's landmark church, restored after the 1988 quake
- Black FortressRound 19th-century Russian fort above Gyumri
- Yereruyk Basilica5th-century basilica near the Turkish border
- Lake ArpiHighland lake and national park famed for birdlife
More of the same kind
- Blue Mosque18th-century Persian mosque with a tiled courtyard
- St Gregory the Illuminator CathedralLargest cathedral in Armenia, consecrated in 2001
- Katoghike ChurchTiny 13th-century chapel, the oldest in central Yerevan
- Zoravor Church17th-century church in a quiet courtyard