Church of Saints Paul and Peter in Yerevan

The photograph shows the Church of Saints Paul and Peter in Yerevan, among town houses and trees. On its façade is a bell tower with arched openings, a conical top and a cross; hills rise in the background.

The church was built in the 5th century and belonged to the type of early Christian three-aisled basilicas (with three longitudinal halls). Research has shown that a pagan temple stood on the same site as early as the 3rd century and was later rebuilt as a Christian church. Over the centuries the building was repaired, but the earthquake of 1679 caused serious damage. In the 19th century the church was fully restored.

In the 1930s it was completely demolished by the Soviet authorities, and the Moskva cinema was built in its place.