St. Hripsime Church in Yalta

The photograph shows the Armenian Church of St. Hripsime in Yalta, considered one of the most beautiful Armenian sanctuaries in Crimea. Between two stone pillars carved with crosses stands an open iron gate, from which a long staircase rises between cypresses towards the domed façade of the church.

The church was built at the beginning of the 20th century to a design by the architect Gabriel Ter-Mikaelian. The construction was funded by Poghos Ter-Ghukasian, an Armenian oil industrialist from Baku, and is linked to a personal tragedy in his family. During the war years the church was partly damaged, but it was later fully restored.