Government to Allocate Funds for Protective Covering for the Drum of St. Grigor Church in Aruch
The Government of Armenia will allocate over 53 million Drams for the acquisition of a temporary protective covering for the drum of St. Grigor Church in Aruch, located in the Aragatsotn Province. The funds will be provided to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the RA through a redistribution from the state budget.
St. Grigor Church is located at the foot of the western slope of Mount Aragats and belongs to the domed-hall type of structures. According to the construction inscription, the Aruch church was in a semi-ruined condition. Previously, the interior was covered with frescoes depicting the scene built by Grigor I Mamikonian in the 60s of the 7th century. Although the temple is standing, it is of the Ascension, which have now almost disappeared.
The dome of the church is currently destroyed, and due to its exposed state, the drum is subject to climatic effects and decay. This financial support is being implemented considering the necessity of preserving the monument.
Within the framework of Armenian-Italian cooperation, landscaping work in the adjacent territory of the church is also ongoing. The Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, with the participation of Italian and Armenian architects, is carrying out archaeological excavations at the Aruch fortress. Studies are also being conducted to assess the technical condition of the church and the fortress, as well as the feasibility of restoring the dome.