Holy Mother of God Cathedral (; ), also known as Surb Astvatsamor Hovanu Cathedral, was a church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, located in the city of Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan. A 4-meter (13 foot) statue of King Vachagan III was planned to be placed on a 2-meter (6 foot) pedestal near the church. Construction of St. Mary Mother Cathedral of Stepanakert The church – under construction for 12 years – was consecrated on 7 April 2019.

History The cathedral became a bomb shelter during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, with civilians taking refuge in the basement of the cathedral from Azerbaijan's bombardment of Stepanakert.

The last liturgy was served in the cathedral on 1 October 2023 before the entire Armenian population had fled the city and Azerbaijan had taken control.

The cathedral was demolished by Azerbaijan in April 2026, before Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.

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See also

Armenia–Azerbaijan relations Christianity in Azerbaijan

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