With Samvel Karapetyan`s support, historic seminary building in  Rostov returned to Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese

ArmInfo.  With the support of businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, leader of the Strong Armenia party, the historic seminary building in Rostov-on-Don  was returned to the Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese of the  Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC).

The diocese's announcement noted that the city authorities of  Rostov-on-Don returned the historic building of the Armenian Seminary  to the Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese as a historical and  cultural heritage site.

"National philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, who has always placed  great importance on the educational mission of the Armenian Church  both in his homeland and abroad, contributed his invaluable and noble  efforts to this endeavor. To organize the building's future operation  and restoration, the head of the diocese, Archbishop Ezras Nersisyan,  traveled to Rostov-on-Don, where he held a number of meetings. During  the visit, it became clear that the four-story building possessed  excellent architectural features, but, having been unused for many  years, it had fallen into disrepair and deplorable condition," the  diocese said in a statement.

It is noted that the diocese expressed its willingness to repair the  building and restore the educational center's historical mission.

According to open sources, until the early 20th century, the  Armenian-populated region of New Nakhichevan was the spiritual center  of diocesan life. This is due to the fact that it was here in 1875  that one of the best theological schools in the region was founded,  which in 1881, by decree of Emperor Alexander II, was transformed  into a theological seminary.