Russian-language article (translation in progress).
Armenian church in Yalta resembles remotely an ancient temple Ripsime (VII-XIIcc.) in Echmiadzin. The building constucted in 1909 - 1914 by architect Ter-Mikelov according to the drafts of the famous artist Surenyants, is situated on a steep slope of a mountain. The front entrance and approach to it is arranged in a witty way. On the southern front there is a richly decorated false entrance in a shape of a broad arched niche. A gracefull staircase surrounded by cypresses leads from the temple gates to the place before this 'entrance'. Going up the stairs you can see the whole temple at once - compact as if it was carved from a monolith. The temple is crowned by a hexahedron temp made of the same stone on an elegant drum.At the end of the climb suddenly appeared one more staircase which lead to the real entrance on the western side of the church. Clearness and purity of the style, simple decorative detailes combined harmoniously of the rigid sparingly decorated entrance make impression.
Amazing skill of a decorator, perfectly polished stone are seen in every square meter of the fronts of the church.
The interior does not concede to the exterior of the church - with it's dome painted by Surenyants and it's marble inlaid icon.
