Khachkar

The painter Martiros Sarian (second from bottom left) pictured beside a monumental medieval khatchkar at the Armenian monastery of Sanahin in 1902

Two Julfa-type khachkars from the 16th century, removed from the Julfa graveyard before its destruction by Azerbaijan

The famous khachkar at Goshavank, carved in 1291 by the artist Poghos.

A modern, Amenaprkich-type, khachkar in Novi Sad, Serbia

A Khachkar or Khatchkar ("Խաչքար" in Armenian, meaning "cross-stone") is a carved memorial stone, typically found in Armenia.^[1] Articles with similar titles include the NATO phonetic alphabet, which has also informally been called the “International Phonetic Alphabet”. For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words, see IPA chart for English. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Martiros Saryan (1880 - 1972) was an Armenian painter. ... Amenaprkich (Holy Redeemer) church St. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (960x1280, 640 KB) Summary These two khachkars, originally from Jugha were taken to Etchmiadzin, Armenia to be put on display. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (960x1280, 640 KB) Summary These two khachkars, originally from Jugha were taken to Etchmiadzin, Armenia to be put on display. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2112x2816, 4036 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Khachkar Goshavank Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2112x2816, 4036 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Khachkar Goshavank Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Goshavank Monastery Goshavank (Armenian: , meaning Monastery of Gosh), is a monastery located in a village of Armenia named Gosh (Tavush marz), was originally known as Nor-Getik. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 454 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (606 × 800 pixel, file size: 231 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Hachkar in Novi Sad, Serbia at the site where once stood Armenian church, and is gift of town of Yerevan. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 454 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (606 × 800 pixel, file size: 231 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Hachkar in Novi Sad, Serbia at the site where once stood Armenian church, and is gift of town of Yerevan. ... Nickname: Serbian Athens Motto: Град по мери грађана City of the citizens (in English) Location of Novi Sad within Serbia Coordinates: Country  Serbia Province Vojvodina District South Bačka Established 1694 City status February 1, 1748 Politics    - Mayor Maja Gojković (SRS)  - City assembly SRS, DSS and SPS  - Municipalities 2 (Novi Sad and Petrovaradin) Area... --> Anthem Serbia() on the European continent() Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian language 1 Recognised regional languages Hungarian, Croatian, Slovak, Romanian, Rusyn 2 Albanian 3 Government Semi-presidential republic  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica Establishment  -  Formation 8th century   -  First unified state c. ...

Definition and purpose

The most common feature is a cross, rarely with a crucifix, with a rosette or sun disc below it. The remainder is usually filled with patterns of leaves, grapes or abstract knotwork patterns. Occasionally it is surmounted by a cornice with biblical or saints' characters. A Greek cross (all arms of equal length) above a saltire, a cross rotated by 45 degrees A famous Armenian khachkar at Goshavank (Notice the cross). ... The Crucifix, a cross with corpus, a symbol used in Catholicism in contrast with some other Christian communions, which use only a cross. ... Rosettes can refer for: A small, circular, device that can be awarded with medals (see: Rosette (decoration)). A type of plant with their leaves at an upset stem in a typical form. ... Example of cornice laden roof line In classical architecture the cornice is the set of projecting moldings that crown an entablature. ... This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library of Congress. ...

The most common reason for erecting a khachkar was for votive reasons - for the salvation of the soul of either a living or a deceased person. They were also erected for other reasons, such as to commemorate a military victory, construction of a church, or as a form of protection from natural disasters.^[2]

The most common location for a khachkar is in a graveyard. However Armenian gravestones take many other forms, and only a minority are khatchkars.

Amenaprkich

Amenaprkich is the term for a particular type of khachkar, in which on the cross is a depiction of the crucified Christ. Ony a few such designs are known. These Khachkars provide inscriptions which often contain important historical information. This tradition went all the way back to the Armenian masters who made cuneiform inscriptions in the Kingdoms of Armani, Mitanni and Aratta in the third and second millennia BC.^[3] Kingdom of Mitanni Mitanni (cuneiform KUR URUMi-it-ta-ni, also Mittani Mi-ta-an-ni, in Assyrian sources Hanigalbat, Khanigalbat cuneiform Ḫa-ni-gal-bat ) was a Hurrian kingdom in northern Mesopotamia from ca. ... Aratta was an ancient state formation of renown somewhere in the Middle East, ca. ...

History

The first true khachkars appeared in the 9th century, during the time of Armenian revival after liberation from Arab rule. The oldest khachkar with a known date was carved in 879 (though earlier, cruder, examples exist). Erected in Garni, it is dedicated to queen Katranide, the wife of king Ashot I Bagratuni. The peak of the khachkar carving art was between the 12th and the 14th centuries. The art declined during the Mongol invasion at the end of the 14th century. It revived in the 16th and 17th centuries, but the artistic heights of the 14th century were never achieved again. Today, the tradition still remains, and one can still see khachkar carvers in some parts of Yerevan.^[4] As a means of recording the passage of time the 9th century was that century that lasted from 801 to 900. ... Languages Arabic other minority languages Religions Predomiantly Sunni Islam, as well as Shia Islam, Greek Orthodoxy, Greek Catholicism, Maronite, Alawite Islam, Druze, Ibadi Islam, and Judaism An Arab (Arabic: ) is any member of the Semitic group of people whose cultural, linguistic, and in certain cases, ancestral origins trace back to... Events Wilfred the Hairy, Count of Barcelona, founded the benedictine monastery at Ripoll. ... Garni Garni (Ô³Õ¡Õ¼Õ¶Õ« in Armenian) is a village in the Armenian province of Kotayk, situated approx. ... Ashot I Bagratuni was an Armenian prince, with Ashot II, oversaw Armenias second golden age (862–977). ... Ashot I Bagratuni was an Armenian prince who, with Ashot II, oversaw Armenias second golden age (862–977). ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... This 14th-century statue from south India depicts the gods Shiva (on the left) and Uma (on the right). ... The name Mongols (Mongolian: Mongol) specifies one or several ethnic groups. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Location of Yerevan in Armenia Coordinates: Country Armenia Established 782 BC Government  - Mayor Yervand Zakharyan Area  - City 227 km²  (87. ...

About 40,000 khachkars survive today. Most of them are free standing, though those recording donations are usually built into monastery walls. The following three khachkars are believed to be the finest examples of the art form:

• One in Geghard, carved in 1213, probably by Timot and Mkhitar
• The Holy Redeemer khachkar in Haghpat, carved in 1273 by Vahram
• A khachkar in Goshavank, carved in 1291 by Poghos

A number of good examples have been transferred to the Historical Museum in Yerevan and beside the cathedral in Echmiadzin. The location in Armenia with the largest surviving collection of khachkars is the field of khachkars at Noratus, on the western shore of the Lake Sevan, where an old graveyard with around 900 khachkars from various periods and of various styles can be seen. The largest collection in the world was formerly located in Julfa in the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. Geghard Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Geghard The monastery of Geghard (Ô³Õ¥Õ²Õ¡Ö€Õ¤ in Armenian) is a unique architectural construction in the Kotayk province of Armenia, being partially cut into the rocks of the surrounding cliffs. ... May 30 - Battle of Damme; English fleet under William Longsword destroyes a French fleet off the Belgian port in the first major victory for the fledgling Royal Navy. ... Sourb Nshan (Holy Sign of the Cross) church Haghpat (Õ€Õ¡Õ²ÕºÕ¡Õ¿ in Armenian) is a village in the Northern Lorri province of Armenia, close to the city of Alaverdi and the state border with Georgia. ... For broader historical context, see 1270s and 13th century. ... Goshavank Monastery Goshavank (Armenian: , meaning Monastery of Gosh), is a monastery located in a village of Armenia named Gosh (Tavush marz), was originally known as Nor-Getik. ... For broader historical context, see 1290s and 13th century. ... Location of Yerevan in Armenia Coordinates: Country Armenia Established 782 BC Government  - Mayor Yervand Zakharyan Area  - City 227 km²  (87. ... Echmiadzin or Ejmiatsin (Armenian: Ô·Õ»Õ´Õ«Õ¡Õ®Õ«Õ¶) is the holiest town in Armenia and the headquarters of the katholikos, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church. ... View of the lake from space Lake Sevan (Սևանա Õ¬Õ«Õ³ in Armenian), named Gegham Sea (Ô³Õ¥Õ²Õ¡Õ´Õ¡ Õ®Õ¸Õ¾) in ancient times, is the largest lake in Armenia and one of the largest high altitude lakes in the world. ... A photograph, taken in 1915, showing part of the medieval Armenian cemetery of Julfa. ... The Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (Azerbaijani: Naxçıvan Muxtar Respublikası, Armenian: Õ†Õ¡Õ­Õ«Õ»Ö‡Õ¡Õ¶Õ« Ô»Õ¶Ö„Õ¶Õ¡Õ¾Õ¡Ö€ Õ€Õ¡Õ¶Ö€Õ¡ÕºÕ¥Õ¿Õ¸Ö‚Õ©ÕµÕ¸Ö‚Õ¶, Russian: Нахичеванская Автономная Республика, Persian:جمهوری خودمختار نخجوان, Turkish: Nahçıvan Özerk Cumhuriyeti), known simply as Nakhichevan, is a landlocked exclave of Azerbaijan. ...

Endangered khachkars

A large portion of khachkars, which were created in historic Armenia and surrounding regions, in modern times have become the possession of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and partly Georgia and Iran. As a result of systematic eradication of khachkars in Turkey today only a few examples survive. Unfortunately these single examples are not cataloged and properly photographed. Thus, it is difficult to follow up with the current situation. ^[5] One documented example is the Khachkar destruction in Nakhichevan.^[6][7][8] Julfa is located close to the Iranian border in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. ...

There is also evidence and photos from Armenian sources^[9] of khachkars being damaged, neglected, or moved in Armenia. In most danger are old khachkars located near modern graveyards, where khachkars are being eradicated to creat new burial spaces. One of the worst examples of this is at the khachkar field in the village of Arinj, near Yerevan. The situation is also threatening in the Noratus cemetery (near Lake Sevan), where new burials are encroaching upon the khachkar field from at least three sides. The old graveyard of the village of Areni in Vayots Dzor is in almost the same situation. View of the lake from space Lake Sevan (Սևանա լիճ in Armenian), named Gegham Sea (Գեղամա ծով) in ancient times, is the largest lake in Armenia and one of the largest high altitude lakes in the world. ... Vayots Dzor is one of the provinces (marz) of Armenia. ...

The movement of khachkars voluntarily by different individuals is a widespread practice. In some cases this is done to allegedly create a new holy place, for example, the case of Karmir Dalakner of Gegharkunik region where a khachkar was brought from Kalbajar, Azerbaijan. Another case of moved khachkars is due to the decoration of new offices and, especially, entertainment establishments: for example in Vank village in Karabakh. The third and the most condemnable practice is when khachkars have disappeared merely to provide interior decoration for people's yards and houses.^[9] Armenian province Gegharkunik Gegharkunik (Ô³Õ¥Õ²Õ¡Ö€Ö„Õ¸Ö‚Õ¶Õ«Ö„) is one of the provinces (marz) of Armenia. ... Kalbacar is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ...

See also

• Celtic knot
• Kackar
• Stele

A classic Celtic knot pattern Celtic knots are a variety of (endless) knots and stylized graphical representations of knots used for decoration, first known to have been used by the Celts. ... The highest peak Kaçkar Dağı from Mezovit Çayiri Kaçkar mountains or Kaçkar Dağları or simply Kaçkar(s) is a mountain range rising above along the Black Sea coast in Eastern Turkey. ... Ancient Egyptian funerary stele Suenos Stone in Forres Scotland A stele (or stela) is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected for funerary or commemorative purposes, most usually decorated with the names and titles of the deceased or living—inscribed, carved in relief (bas...

References

Institute for War and Peace Reporting is an international media development charity, established in 1991. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... April 15 is the 105th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (106th in leap years). ... The Art Newspaper (Established in 1983) is a weekly newspaper about the visual arts based in London. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... May 25 is the 145th day of the year (146th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Archaeology is a bimonthly mainstream magazine about archaeology, published by the Archaeological Institute of America; the editors estimate that less than one-half of one percent of their readers are professional archaeologists. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Khachkar

• Khatchkar collection at Armenica.org
• Old Jugha page on Armeniapedia
• Destruction of Jugha khachkars by Azeri soldiers captured in photos and movie clips.
• Khachkar page on Armeniapedia (many photos)
• Photos of 15th/16th CE khatchkars near Bitlis, Turkey
• Khachkar.am :: Everything about khachkars
• Triumph of Tolerance or Vandalism?
• Photos and history of Khachkars