A BRIEF REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF RESEARCH ON ARMENIAN ARCHITECTURE ORGANIZATION FOR THE YEAR 2001

The purpose of Research on Armenian Architecture (RAA) NGO is

to investigate and document Armenian architectural monuments located outside the borders of the present-day Republic of Armenia, i.e. in Cilicia and Historical Armenia (most of the latter's territory has formed part of its neighbouring countries since World War I), as well as in the adjacent countries of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran and the historical Armenian Diaspora. The organization also has the objective of presenting the Armenian society and international community publications on them. The problem is the same everywhere: it is necessary to take photographs of the monuments and have them fixed onto maps, thus saving them at least on paper before their final annihilation. With this goal in mind, RAA started research about 30 years ago in an area larger than the present-day Republic of Armenia, the entire work being carried out by a few devotees who had to confine themselves to the highly limited financial means they had at their disposal, being sometimes obliged to face rather dangerous conditions. Eye-witness to the planned destruction of the Armenian architectural monuments, each year we are confronted with the difficult choice of prioritizing our targets and deciding where to focus our efforts. The final decision, however, is always dependent on financial resources and different political obstacles.

RESEARCH CONDUCTED IN WESTERN ARMENIA   
   The first trip RAA staff made to Western Armenia commenced from Cesarea (Kayseri), where a church, the local Armenian quarter and market were photographed.
   In Kars an Armenian church, now turned into a mosque and named Besik Cami, was photographed. The city's once Armenian-populated quarter, which still existed in 1999, is totally ruined now: only some fragments of cross-stones (khachkars) and lapidary inscriptions are preserved there. All the lapidary inscriptions of St. Sargis Church of Khtzkonk Monastery Complex, which was still standing, were photographed again.
   Since 2000 it has been banned to take any photographs in the city of Ani, where the restoration of the ramparts is underway. Some dangerous cracks have appeared on the southern and western facades of the city's main cathedral.
   The only remnants of Sourb Astvatzatzin Monastery, situated in the settlement of Demirdoven, beside the city of Pasinlar, comprise its belfry that has been partly preserved.
   Six standing and semi-ruined churches as well as gravestones and broken khachkars were photographed in the district of Divrig.
   We also photographed the monastery of Akhtamar, where several cross-stones, existing a few years before, had disappeared.
   Photographs were also taken of two churches in the district of Datvan as well as some destroyed ones and gravestones deliberately reduced to building material in the villages situated at the foot of Mount Nemrut, in the west of Lake Van.

RESEARCH CONDUCTED IN ARTSAKH, JAVAKHK AND ARMENIA
   For 14 days between March and April as well as October and November, Samvel Karapetian initiated research into the monuments preserved in 17 villages in Askeran, Shushi, Hadrut, Martuni and Martakert Districts, Artsakh, as well as the adjacent areas, their microtoponyms being mapped: the RAA archives were enriched with 950 photos, measurements and copies of lapidary inscriptions.
   In July a 10-day trip was made to Javakhk with the aim of collecting further material for a scientific work entitled "The Historical Monuments of Javakhk".
   During the year Samvel Karapetyan made another short-term trip to Khosrov Reserve for the purpose of conducting investigation into the local monuments to complete another scientific work entitled "The Medieval Monuments of Khosrov Reserve," which is under preparation at present.

RESTORATION IN DADIVANK
   The monastic complex of Dadivank consists of 10 religious structures, including 4 churches, 6 chapels and numerous other buildings. Its Katoghike (1214), i.e. the main domed church of the complex, the main church dating back to 1211, the porch (1224), the belfry (1283), the vestibule (1283-1293), the hall and dwellings as well as the refectory and kitchen founded after 1211, the guest-chamber, the wine press, the cellar, the princely quarters and the chapel, all tracing back to the 13th century, the portico, the gates and some other rooms (13th-14th centuries) bear the remarkable features of Artsakh architectural school. Most of these buildings have survived but until very recently they were in a state of decay and even in emergency condition.
   The restoration carried out in this monument complex is of great significance from the standpoint of the preservation of the sanctuary which stands as an eloquent proof of the Armenians' existence in that land.
   For some technical reasons, the restoration of the small domed church, covered with a tiled roof, was delayed until the spring of 2002 (it is sponsored by Shahen and Martha Harutiunian, New York, USA.
    We are glad to inform that Edil Hovnanian (New York, USA) has assumed the sponsorship of the restoration of Dadivank's main church. Its restoration project, worked out by architect Samvel Ayvazyan, was approved by the Academic Council of the Historical and Cultural Monuments Preservation Board, RA. He will control the work which will start in the spring of 2002.
    This patriotic action is being carried out under the spiritual guidance of Archbishop Pargev, the leader of Artsakh Diocese.
   Dadivank Complex, which is one of the most important monuments of Armenian architecture, has all the possibilities for future functioning.

SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCES
   In 2001 RAA members participated in and delivered reports at the following conferences: "A Dialogue of Civilizations," Yerevan, 20 to 24 August; "Christian Armenia as a Cross-Road of Civilizations," Yerevan, 19 to 21 September and "The Problems of Monuments Preservation," Stepanakert, Karabakh, 7 to 9 November.
   In May 2001 RAA representative Alexandre Kananian participated in a conference held in Los Angeles, CA, where he presented a report on the historical monuments of Tayk.
   In July Samvel Karapetian participated in another conference in Beirut, Lebanon, with a report on the historical monuments of Javakhk.

RAA AND STUDENTS

WORKS PUBLISHED WITHIN THE SERIES OF "RAA. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHES"
   The series of the RAA books entitled "Scientific Researches" is the only one in the present-day Republic of Armenia which publishes investigation materials on history and architecture. Below follows a list of the works published within this unique series:
   1. The Armenian Lapidary Inscriptions of Boon Aghvank, Yerevan, 1997 (in Armenian);
   2. The State Policy of Georgia and the Monuments of Armenian Culture, Yerevan, 1998 (in Armenian);
   3. Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 1999 (in Armenian); Yerevan, 2000, in Russian, and Yerevan, 2001 (in English).
   4. The Princely Castles of Artsakh and Syunik, Yerevan, 2001 (published in Armenian under the patronage of Shahen and Martha Harutiunian, Los Angeles, USA).


THE HISTORICAL MONUMENTS OF ARTAZ
   During the year the preparation of Armen Hakhnazarian's work entitled "The Historical Monuments of Artaz" was underway.

THE HISTORICAL MONUMENTS OF JAVAKHK
   Parallel with other works, since May 2001 the materials concerning the work entitled "The Historicul Monuments of Javakhk," collected throughout more than 10 years, have been prepared.
   The territory of Javakhk District, Gugark Province, Historical Armenia, that is currently situated in the south of Georgia, a cross-border of Armenia, abounds in diverse historical monuments. Mainly populated by the Armenians, it has not been investigated properly so far.
   The work, based on various sources and archive materials, treats the history of all the settlements of Javakhk, including the decipherments of Armenian, Georgian, Arabic and Turkish lapidary inscriptions published for the first time.
   Based on sheer facts, it shows that since ancient times, Javakhk has been populated by Armenians whose number periodically decreased or grew due to different historical events.
   The publication of this scientific work is a serious contribution to the research of the historical-cultural heritage of Javakhk District.

CALENDAR
   RAA NGO published a calendar representing Dadivank, a monastic complex situated in Karvachar District, Karabakh, for the year 2002.

APPEAL
   In the aftermath of the unfortunate political events that occurred during and after World War I, most of the territory of Historical Armenia now forms part of the adjacent countries. Thus, the districts of Artaz and Parspatunik are located within Iran's borders, the most important of the local Armenian monasteries being generally reconstructed under state auspices. The other neighbours of Armenia, however, do not share this respect for culture and religion: the deliberate destruction of Armenian religious monuments is still in process in Turkey (see RAA Report for 1997, St. Bartholomew Monastery), the Armenian churches being consistently appropriated in Georgia. Between November and December 2002, Azerbaijan, one of the member-states of the UN, UNESCO, ICOMOS and the European Council that also intends to be admitted to the European Union, realized the premeditated annihilation of about 2,700 nicely-carved cross-stones in the centuries-old cemetery of Hin Jugha, Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan. The unique monument complex fell victim to the barbarity perpetrated after the example of the aggressive followers of Taleban. RAA NGO calls upon you to join this appeal of protest and expose the cultural "genocide" with all possible means, denouncing Azerbaijan in the world organizations.

Dr. Armen Hakhnazarian
RAA Founding Director