Armenian cemetery has world’s largest collection of khachkars, stone crosses that protect the soul

[Kazimiera]

Armenian cemetery has world’s largest collection of khachkars, stone crosses that protect the soul

Source: http://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/0...tect-the-soul/

The Noratus cemetery, one of the best known medieval graveyards in Armenia, has the largest collection of decorative stone crosses, known as khachkars, in the world. It is now the only surviving cemetery of its kind in the country, after the khachkars in Old Julfa, in Nakhichevan, were destroyed by the Azerbaijani government in a much-protested action.

The oldest of these stone crosses dates back to the 9th century. Medieval Christians believed that the stone crosses would protect their souls from misfortune.

A khachkar is a memorial stone that has a carved cross in the middle. These stones are decorated with motifs characteristic of medieval Christian Armenian art. Because of their symbolism and magnificent craftsmanship, in 2010 they were added to the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The previously largest collection of khachkars, in the cemetery in Old Julfa, held some 10,000 monuments. In 1998, UNESCO ordered that the ongoing destruction of those monuments cease. The international pressure did not save the khachkars. They were sledgehammered and the cemetery has reportedly been turned into a military shooting range by the Azerbaijani government.


Richly carved stone crosses.

The design of the khachkars had historical as well as personal meaning. Most of the time, the cross in the middle of the stone is surrounded by a solar disc or a rosette and decorated with images of vines, grapes, and other plants. Many khachkars were erected to commemorate important events, such as the construction of a new church or a victory in battle, or as protection from evil and natural disasters.


The oldest khachkars are from the 9th centuries, but the majority are from 13-17th centuries.

The oldest khachkar at Noratus, dedicated to Queen Katranide I, the wife of King Ashot I Bagratuni, was made in 879. The tradition of carving khachkars stopped during the Mongol invasion at the end of the 14th century but was revived again in the time of the Persian Safavid Empire. Many of these 16th and 17th-century stones demonstrate Asian influences mixed into the Armenian art.


The motifs on the stones are characteristic of medieval Christian Armenian art.

The Noratus cemetery has almost 1,000 khachkars, and each of them has its own unique ornamentation. A number of khachkars can also be found in the churchyard of St. Astvatsatsin church, as well as various other locations throughout Noratus village. Visitors can take a marked 14-stop walking tour of the cemetery.


The carving of these stones declined at the end of the 14th century during the Mongol invasion.

The first stop on the tour is the Geghama Stone, with carvings that celebrate the bringing of piped water to Noratus in the 17th century. The second is the gravestone for a farmer, depicting a farmer at his plow. The third stop is the Patrimonial graveyard, which is composed of four stones on two pedestals, significant because of their remarkable carvings.

The Ghazar graveyard is the fourth stop, with six stones in a row situated on one foundation block that was built from three huge stones. They were made by the master carver Kiram Kazmogh (1551-1610).


According to beliefs, they were built as guardians of the soul and to give protection from natural disasters.

The most beautifully carved stones in the cemetery can be seen at the Harutents patrimonial graveyard. This is one of the largest parts of the cemetery and the fifth stop on the tour. It was made in the 14th century for the Harutents family. Stop six is the First Chapel and the two gravestones Kahana Khachkar, made for the priest Ter Avetisi Hovakimian in the 19th century.


A memorial stone depicting a wedding celebration.

Stop seven is at inscriptions on the First Chapel made by the mason Alexan, whose grave lies opposite. At the eighth stop stands a group of early khachkars. These simply carved stones are believed by experts to be from the 10th to 11th century. The partially ruined Second Chapel surrounded with several khachkars is stop number nine.

The oldest graveyard from the 9th and 10th centuries is the next place to visit and after that, three khachkars from different periods can be seen (from the 9th century until the 16th century).


A tomb surrounded by khachkars.

On the 12th stop, there is the Khachkar pedestal from the 13th century carved with geometric forms. At the 13th stop are the five khachkars comprising the Sargisents family graveyard, and another five from the 16th century can be seen at the Atipeks Family Graveyard, which is the 14th and last stop of the tour.

Related story from us: The Good Cemeterian: Мan spends his Sundays cleaning forgotten veterans’ tombstones

The Noratus cemetery is an extraordinary cemetery with a rich history. In 1977, one of the memorial stones was donated to the British Museum by Catholicos Vazgen I.

[Armenian Bishop]

Thank You for these extraordinary examples of Armenian Khachkars (monument crosses). This thread deserves more interest, and it's well worth the time spent viewing the cross-laden landscapes. Indeed, the very earth of the Armenian Highlands is covered with crosses, whether they be from cemeteries, monasteries, churches, the ruins of fortified cities, or in other places.

Historically speaking, the Armenian Highlands encompasses a vast area, far beyond Armenia's present day borders:

(1) To the East of Yerevan, the Armenian Highlands include Karabakh and Nakhichevan, both areas disputed by Azerbaijan, despite that Armenia's presence in those areas is undeniably proven, based upon historical maps, historical artifacts, and historical landmarks. Foremost among these historical landmarks are the thousands of Khachkars that adorned centuries old Armenian Cemeteries in Karabakh and Nakhichevan, and beyond that, deeper inside present day Azerbaijan; unfortunately, the government in Baku, Azerbaijan, has been engaged in a century old project of ethnic cleansing and genocide, which has included the destruction of much of the historical evidence that gives proof of Armenia's historical presence in those regions. Baku's premeditated activities of ethnic cleansing have caused the destruction of countless Armenian Khachkars, churches and monasteries.

(2) To the Southeast of present day Armenia, much of present day Eastern Turkey is included within the Armenian Highlands, as a centerpiece of Armenia's indigenous homeland. The historical Armenian presence in Turkey extends even further to the West, because of an Armenian Medieval Kingdom based on the Mediterranean Coastline (facing Cyprus from the North and East). This area is also known as Western Armenia. Armenian Khachkars in Western Armenia far exceeded what is now viewable in present day Armenia; unfortunately, many of these kachkars have been defaced or destroyed, and this also applies to all other historical landmarks in present day Turkey, including Armenian churches, monasteries, and fortified cities, as well as khachkars. This is another evil legacy of the century old genocide.

[Armenian Bishop]

On Dec. 10, 2005, the government of Azerbaijan began the final demolition of the historic Armenian cemetery in Julfa, an ancient Armenian city now located in Nakhichevan. This marked the final blow to the 10,000 intricately hand carved Khachkars (cross-stones) which were erected between the 6th through the 17th centuries. By Dec. 15, 2005, the final destruction was complete. Approximately 200 Azerbaijani soldiers gathered at the Nakhichevan-Iran border to desecrate the remaining grave markers at the Julfa Armenian cemetery. The cemetery has since been replaced with an Azerbaijani military training base.

Shahen Mirakian, President of the ANCC publicly condemned Azerbaijan: “The Armenian monuments represent unique architectural value and the international community should be aware of the policy of their destruction that can only be defined as cultural genocide ... The annihilation of the civilization of a people is incompatible with any country aspiring to become an honest broker for peace, justice, and equality around the world. Azerbaijan cannot be regarded as such, until it faces its own history and respects the rights and freedoms of other nations.”

* The destruction of the cemetery, and its Kachkars, was videoed from the Iranian side of the Border.

[Armenian Bishop]

The last of 10,000 Armenian Kachkars, at Julfa Cemetery, crushed into dust and dumped into The Araxes River. Baku, Azerbaijan currently denies that Armenians lived there at all, and the unmarked graves are now paved over. An Azeri military base is now posted above the graves, with a firing range.