On June 24^th2014, on the ruins of St. Khach Armenian Church of the Big Aragyal village of Ninotsminda region, groundbreaking ceremony was implemented under the leadership of Georgia’s Armenian Diocese head bishop Vazgen Mirzakhany an, who was joined by Samskhe-Javakh eti’s prelacy head Father Babgen Salibyan and other spiritual leaders.

Big Aragyal is one of the Armenian villages of Ninotsminda region, which was founded in 1830 by Armenians from Brtunq village of Erzrumvilayet. It is situated in northeastern part of Javakhq, on the left side of river Taparvan. The wooden church of the village is first mentioned in 1840, later replaced by a solid stone built church of St. Khach. It is planned to build a dome basilica on the ruins of the church, where old pieces from the original church will be used.

The new church will be built by financial support of Arthur and Aida Isoyans whose origins are from Big Aragyal but who currently live in Russia. Arthur Isoyan is the son of famous Georgian-Armenian writer and public figure, member of “Vernatun” Armenian writers’ Union of Georgia Albert Isoyan. For many years Isoyan had a dream of seeing the church reconstructed and the dream will be fulfilled in the near future.

Georgian parliament members from Ninotsminda and AkhalkalakHenzelMkoyan and SamvelPetrosyan attended the groundbreaking ceremony. Regional council members of Ninotsminda and Akhalkalak, SmbatKyureghyan and Hamlet Movsisyan, guests from Armenia, Russia and other parts of Georgia were also present at the event.

Serving oblation to the public, specially made for the event, concluded the ceremony. Meanwhile, it became known that there is a newborn boy in the village, hence the gathered decided to baptize the child on the day of church’s official opening.