15th century Armenian church in Crimea was brought to destruction
Intent
On January 12, 2026, residents of the old part of occupied Feodosia recorded another act of destruction of the peninsula’s historical heritage. The Church of the Holy Archangels Gabriel and Michael, a unique architectural monument built in 1408, began to physically collapse after a decade of neglect during the Russian occupation.
This was reported by Holos Kryma.
In addition to its architectural significance, the church is directly related to the life of the outstanding marine painter Ivan Aivazovsky. It was here in 1848 that he was married to Julia Graves. Despite its historical significance and formal inclusion in the list of ‘cultural heritage of federal significance’, Russia has not taken any real steps to preserve it during the years of occupation.
The situation around the church has become a classic example of bureaucratic inaction. The occupation administration of the city shifts the responsibility to the religious community, while representatives of the Armenian community claim a complete lack of funding even for priority emergency repairs. Although the project documentation has long been approved, the funds to save the site have not been allocated in the invaders’ budget.
The condition of the monument is currently critical: in addition to the destroyed bell tower, a deep crack runs through the entire wall of the church, and the lack of waterproofing has led to the degradation of the limestone masonry. Similar problems can be observed in another medieval church in Feodosia, Surb Sarkis, where Aivazovsky’s tomb is located. There, due to the lack of a drainage system, the ministers have to constantly pump out groundwater with a pump.
Crimean ethnographers state that due to a combination of natural factors, vibrations from modern infrastructure, and the complete indifference of the occupiers, the unique cultural code of the region is on the verge of extinction. If immediate measures to strengthen the walls are not taken soon, the ancient structure may not survive the next winter season.
