The church was built by Armenian refugees in Nicosia, probably in the 14th century. The one-aisled building features a cruciform roof and a cylindrical apse covered by a semi-dome. In the course of time, visitors of the church have testified to their faith by carving many diminutive crosses into the St. Mary's outer walls.

Armenians came to Cyprus crossing from Turkey's southern coast, shortly before the French Lusignans arrived. They settled in the Syrian quarter of Nicosia, neighbouring with Carmelites from Syria.