| A BRIEF REPORT ON
THE ACTIVITIES OF RESEARCH ON ARMENIAN ARCHITECTURE ORGANIZATION FOR
THE YEAR 2003 http://www.raa.am, http://raa-usa.org 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 This year RAA members have made another trip to Western Armenia whose details will be presented later. RESEARCH CONDUCTED THROUGH GRANTS Within the framework of a project entitled "The Historical Monuments of Northern Artsakh" that had been awarded an ANSEF (Armenian National Science and Education Fund) grant, we worked on a vast amount of data collected for more than 25 years during fieldwork as well as investigation carried out in libraries and archives. It treats seven administrative districts of present-day Azerbaijan, i.e. Getabek, Dashkesan, Touz, Khanlar, Ghazakh, Kasum-Ismailov and Shamkhor, i.e. the former districts of Yelizavetpol and Ghazakh, Yelizavetpol (Gandzak) Province, more known under the name of Gardmank in the Middle Ages. In the early mediaeval period, the aforementioned territories were identical to a number of districts in Artsakh and Utik Provinces, Metz Hayk. The book dwells upon the history of the villages that were Armenian-populated till the deportation of 1988-1989, as well as that of more than 150 settlements stripped of their Armenian inhabitants since the 1770s and at present occupied by Turks. It abounds in maps, measurements, copies of lapidary inscriptions and about 1,000 photos. RESEARCH CONDUCTED IN ARTSAKH, KARABAKH, AND ARMENIA Short trips were made to the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh and Khosrov Reserve. 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. During the year we continued the restoration of the dome broach of the Katoghike, which was accomplished in November. The restoration of the most difficult part of the church being completed, in spring we will commence paving the floor and covering the drum square and gable roofs with stone. The work is sponsored by Edil Hovnanian from New York, USA. We have also begun implementing the restoration project of the zhamatun with the contribution of Edik Abrahamian from Teheran, Persia. RESTORATION IN USHI's ST. SARGIS MONASTERY The monastic complex of Ushi's St. Sargis is located at the extremity of the former settlement dating from the 3rd-1st millennia B.C., 0,5 km west of Ushi Village, 5 kms north of Ashtarak City, Aragatzotn Marz, at an altitude of 1,410 metres above sea level. Built between the 5th and 18th centuries, it was reduced to ruins by the earthquakes of 1679 and 1827. The only surviving structure of the complex, i.e. the chapel erected over St. Sargis' grave, is in emergency condition and bears the traces of repairs. It represents a single-nave vaulted building of finely-finished basalt and a gable roof. The foundation of the chapel (exterior dimensions: 5.8 x 8 metres) is traditionally associated with Commander Sargis, the prince of Cappadocia (361-363), who was banished by Emperor Julian and found haven in Armenian king Arshak's court. Leaving for Persia, War-Lord Sargis served in king Shapuh's army, but he was soon beheaded on the latter's order for preaching Christianity. He was buried in the village town of Namyan, Mazandaran Province: in the first decade of the 5th century, a delegation led by St. Mesrop moved St. Sargis' remains to Armenia, interring them on an elevation not far from Ushi Village. The monastic complex, which occupies a territory of 45 x 54 metres, consists of the following buildings: St. Sargis Chapel, Sourb Astvatzatzin (Holy Virgin) Church, a vestibule, a belfry, a refectory, some cells, a vaulted guest-chamber, utility rooms and habitable ones, all of them surrounded by ramparts fortified by double-storied circular towers in the corners. St. Sargis of Ushi, that used to be one of the centres of religious education in Armenia, retains the best specimens of Armenian architecture dating back to different periods. Frina Babayan, Archaeology and Ethnography Institute of the National Academy of Sciences, RA, conducted some excavations in the monument under the patronage of Archbishop Shahen Ajemian, dean of the Theology Faculty of Yerevan State University. The monastery, which is also a famous pilgrimage site, is of great significance among monuments of Christian culture. In December 2003 some work was carried out for the conservation of its chapel, already in emergency conditions, whose restoration will commence after the melting of snow, in the spring of 2004. CONFERENCES On 26 March 2003 Dr. Armen Haghnazarian participated in a conference ("Hin Jugha: Lost Treasures") held in the National Academy of Sciences, RA. In November Dr. Haghnazarian presented a report at another conference organized by Dr. R. Hovhannissian in Los Angeles, USA. RAA ARMENIA - RAA USA Between 24 and 30 May on the initiative of RAA's American branch, Mr. S. Karapetian and Dr. A. Haghnazarian delivered lectures in Los Angeles, Boston, Washington, as well as in Armenak Ter-Petrossian Hall of Sourb Astvatzatzin Church, Twin Rynos Hall and that of the Iranian Armenians' Union, Glendale, California. In Alex Manukian Centre of the AGBU, a documentary entitled "The Historical Monuments of the Liberated Areas" (director: Serozh Melik-Hospiants) was shown, a number of interviews being given on BAREV, HORIZON, ABC and ANN channels. S. Karapetian was awarded a bull by Catholicos Aram I and a memorial note by RAA's American branch. RAA AND STUDENTS In different universities RAA members delivered lectures and reports, accompanied by slide display, on the settlements and cultural monuments of different districts of Historical Armenia. EXHIBITIONS On 13 February 2003 RAA held an exhibition exposing and condemning the annihilation of Jugha Cemetery in the House of Architects of Armenia. On 26 March 2003 another exhibition dedicated to Jugha Cemetery was organized in the National Academy of Sciences, RA. 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). 5. The Mayors of Tiflis, Beirut, 2003 (published in Armenian and Russian by Photogravure Zaven & Fils, Beirut, Lebanon, under the sponsorship of Razmik and Violet Tadevossian, London, UK). During that year, RAA also issued an illustrated English booklet on the annihilation of Jugha Cemetery. WORKS PREPARED FOR PUBLICATION WITHIN THE SERIES OF "RAA. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHES" The Historical Monuments of Javakhk The book treats the history of the region as well as all the historical monuments, irrespective of their national belonging, preserved in about 100 settlements and their vicinity. The Microtoponyms of Artsakh The work includes about 6,000 microtoponyms, i.e. the names of hills, fields, rivers, springs, mountains, tributaries, waterfalls, settlement quarters and even lonely trees: in other words, names associated with the Armenian land, most of them being mentioned in different written sources. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Armenian National Science and Education Fund (ANSEF), whose grant enabled us to accomplish the collection of Artsakh's microtoponyms and prepare the aforementioned work. WORKS BEING PREPARED FOR PUBLICATION WITHIN THE SERIES OF "RAA. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHES" The Historical Monuments of Artaz Like other districts of Historical Armenia, Artaz, which at present occupies Iran's north-western part, is rich in different Armenian cultural monuments. The book presenting them most circumstantially is of great significance both from the standpoint of its scientific merits and the cultural and political ties between the two countries improving their cooperation day by day. The History of Nakhichevan Settlements Nakhichevan is one of those districts of Historical Armenia that abounds in cultural monuments: unfortunately, however, annexed to Azerbaijan since 1921 and totally stripped of its Armenian population since 1988, it has continually suffered cultural "genocide" during which a large number of Armenian monuments of great importance were annihilated. An eloquent proof of this is the cemetery of Hin (Old) Jugha, where thousands of khachkars (cross-stones) were reduced to ruins between 1998 and 2002. The materials on the district, different maps and other sources have enabled us to present a work unique both from cultural and political standpoint. A Complete List of the Monuments of Western Armenia So far no complete list has ever been prepared on the cultural monuments of Western Armenia, forming the greatest part of Historical Armenia. The importance of any documentary work on the number, distribution, location and condition of the monuments in each settlement and district is beyond question. It is this very work that will provide both the Armenians and foreigners with an excellent chance to learn that the Turkish authorities, who perpetrated the genocide of almost an entire nation, continue doing the same with their cultural heritage located on the territory of Western Armenia. The Lapidary Inscriptions of Western Armenia Since 1915 the Turkish authorities have been continually demolishing the Armenian monuments throughout Western Armenia. The Armenian lapidary inscriptions, constituting about 95 % of the lapidary material the area used to have, did not escape obliteration either. The work summarizes the material provided by those topographers who worked in Western Armenia till 1915. It also includes the copies of the lapidary inscriptions collected during the scientific expeditions RAA NGO has organized in the recent decades. The Lapidary Inscriptions of Artsakh For many years about 3,600 Armenian lapidary inscriptions were copied and deciphered during the fieldwork initiated by RAA Organization on the territory of Artsakh. We also intend to conduct field research in 2004 to accomplish the book which will include a great number of photos and copies of lapidary inscriptions. RAA FILM RAA's film department, which was established in 2003 under director Artak Avdalian's supervision, is at present engaged in the production of two film series that are planned to be shown on Armenian TV between February and March 2004. CALENDARS Two illustrated calendars were published for 2004: the first bears the following heading, "Let Us Cognize Our Homeland: Northern Artsakh" (published by "Photogravure Zaven & Fils", Beirut, Lebanon), while the second represents the destruction of Jugha Cemetery stating, "Crime against Civilization: Azerbaijan has Annihilated Thousands of Cross-Stones in the Armenian Cemetery of Jugha." 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 Haghnazarian
RAA Founding Director |