The construction of Armenian cathedral in Moscow is planned to be completed by the end of 2012. As reported Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin press center, the Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Garekin II and the head of Russian Diocese Artur Chilingarov during their meeting announced, that the great opening ceremony of Armenian Cathedral will take place late in 2012. The temple construction site was allotted by the Moscow authorities in 1996. The construction is planned to be completed in 2001, but project was delayed till 2006. The architect of the religious complex is Artak Gulian, construction is funded by Armenian and Russian patrons. The whole Cathedral site is about 13.2 thousand square meters; the height of Cathedral is about 50 meters and the dome diameter - 21 meters. The main cross height is 7 meters, and the remaining 5 crosses rise by 4 meters each. The complex includes the Cathedral, the small church of "Holy Cross", educational, cultural, administrative and reception facilities and a museum.

As reported Ukrainian Komsomolskaya Pravda, the Armenian community in Ukraine plans to build an Armenian church. The church design is already done. According to newspaper, the construction will start this spring, most probably in March and will end in 2015. The total area of 40 meters tall church will be 1 thousand square meters. At first, the Armenian Community planned to build the church in historical Podol area, but later, due to problems with the land allocation, building site moved to the Kharkov district of Kiev. Besides, the cathedral site will include an Armenian school and a cultural center. 16 cross-stones will be moved here from Armenia. We also note, that the construction funded only by local Armenian community.

As reported by the Armenian Weekly, earlier this month His Eminence Archbishop Avak Asadourian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Iraq, paid a pastoral visit to the autonomous region of Kurdistan in Northern Iraq, mainly to inspect the work of a new church which is being built in the village of Havresk (Hye Verejh) in the province of Duhok. Due to a state of insecurity, especially in Baghdad and Mosul cities since 2003, the Armenian communities in Iraq have been experiencing inner migration as is the case with other Christian denominations and minorities. As a consequence, a number of Armenians relocated to the Kurdish autonomous region of Iraq. Hence, the Armenian Diocese of Iraq is faced with the obligation and Christian duty of building new churches for the faithful. Due to limited funding the church was not built in an entirely Armenian architectural style. The church is expected to be completed early next year. The new house of worship is being built through a generous donation by the Association of churches in Germany and Switzerland.

As reported by Turkish Huberturk, renovation works of the Armenian St. Kirakos church are conducted in Diarbakyr. The project is estimated $ 2.5 million and financed by the "St. Kirakos" foundation. The foundation, chaired by Tekin Papuchyan, is mainly financed by Diarbakyr-origin Armenians. Works are intended to be completed in 2011. The liturgy is intended to be conducted twice a year and it is also planned to install cross on the church. It is sad to note that currently only 8-10 Armenian families live in the city, although 50 years ago there were around 1000 Armenians living in Diarbakyr. According to the records of city government, the church was built in XV century. It is interesting that after the destruction of the old bell tower struck by lightning in 1913, the architect-builder David Hzarchyan built a new tower in elevated Gothic style that was much higher and more beautiful than the old one. However, soon in notorious 1915 the new tower was destroyed by Turkish artillery. Currently Diarbakyr, built on the site of the one of former capitals of Great Armenia-Tigranakert, unofficially considered the capital of Turkish Kurdistan...