The Goals of the Organization The purpose of Research on Armenian Architecture (RAA) Organization is to investigate the Armenian architectural monuments located outside the borders of present-day Armenia, i.e. on the territory of Historical Armenia, primarily in Western Armenia, Cilicia, and then in the neighboring countries of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Nakhichevan, Iran and the historical Armenian Diaspora. The study of these monuments yields materials that serve as the basis of scientific publications intended for both Armenians and the international community.
The Activity of RAA Organization In fact, RAA commenced research in 1969, but it was only in 1978 that it was established in Aachen City, Germany, as a non-profit organization. In 1998 it was officially set up in Yerevan, Republic of Armenia (its central office is located there), and in 1999 in Los Angeles, USA. RAA has partners in different countries of Europe and the Near East.
The Expeditions and the Results they Yield Despite all the difficulties, so far (2006) the organization has carried out 157 expeditions, of which 61 in Western Armenia and 7 in Cilicia; 41 in Karabakh (Artsakh), including the liberated territories and Northern Artsakh; 25 in Georgia (7 in Gugark, 6 in Javakhk, 4 in Tbilisi, 3 in Akhaltskha, 2 in Kakhet and 3 in Kartli); 11 in the areas along the left bank of the river Kur (Azerbaijan), and 12 in Persian Armenia. In the course of the expeditions, the RAA members photograph, measure and map various historical monuments, including monasteries, churches, forts, bridges, springs, cemeteries, cross-stones, tombstones, dwellings, etc. Special attention is paid to the inscriptions which are copied and deciphered. Parallel with field-work, the organization also carries out research in different libraries and archives, all the material compiled being finalized in the form of scientific publications.
Scientific publications Between 1983 and 1989, the material, acquired through the endeavors of RAA NGO and the Main Board for Preservation and Use of Historical Monuments of the Armenian SSR, became the basis of the first 7 volumes of microfilms entitled "Armenian Architecture." Published under the patronage of Dr. Vazgen Barseghian, each of them contains 4,000 to 5,000 images and measurements, accompanied by texts.
Since 1997, RAA NGO has published the following works within the series called "Scientific Research":
"The Armenian Lapidary Inscriptions of Aghvank" (Yerevan, 1997, in Armenian);
"The State Policy of Georgia and the Monuments of Armenian Culture" (Yerevan, 1998, in Armenian);
"The Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh" (Yerevan, 1999 in Armenian, 2000 in Russian and 2001 in English);
"The Princely Palaces in Artsakh and Syunik" (Yerevan, 2001, in Armenian);
"The Mayors of Tiflis" (Beirut, 2003, in Armenian and Russian);
"Northern Artsakh" (Beirut, 2004, in Armenian);
"The Armenian Collection of the Caucasian Museum" (Beirut, 2004, in Armenian)
"The Armenians in Cahetia" (Beirut, 2004, in Armenian)
Apart from the aforementioned, the organization has also published a great number of booklets, maps, calendars, etc.
Besides their scientific value, the publications of RAA NGO are of immense significance from the standpoint of the Armenians' struggle for the Recognition and Reparation of the Armenian Genocide.
WORKS PREPARED FOR PUBLICATION WITHIN THE SERIES OF "RAA. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHES
Javakhk, The Microtoponyms of Artsakh, The Armenian Churches in Georgia, Artaz, Nakhichevan, Jugha.
Digitization of Archives and Programming One of the major domains of RAA's activity is digitization of photos of Armenian monuments, the creation of a database of Armenian historical monuments and digital reconstruction of monuments, particularly those annihilated in Western Armenia.
The archives of RAA contain over 220,000 images, of which about 70,000 have already been digitized and written on CDs.
In 2004 in partnership with several programmers, the specialists of RAA created a bilingual (Armenian and English) Database of Armenian Historical Monuments. This rare project is available to the public at large in the form of a dynamic Internet Site.
The Database represents a system of 2 parts:
A. 1. An Internet Site which can be visited at http://www.armenianarchitecture.am, where anyone can search for any monument according to the following parameters:
a. The monument's name or other name;
b. Its location (address);
c. Its Type;
d. Composition;
e. The information forms (inscriptions, reliefs, etc.) the monument may possess.
2. An alphabetical search according to the name of the monument.
3. A graphical search for the monument according to the name of the settlement it is located in and the type of map.
4. Search for settlements and monuments according to the subjects of the scientific research.
5. Search for any settlement according to its name or alternate name.
6. Alphabetical search according to the settlement's name.
7. Search according to a descriptive language called Art and Architecture Thesaurus, which represents an integrity of international standards for the terminology used in the cataloguing and registration of the monuments of material culture and archive data.
This site also has a sub-section called PROPOSALS, which enables anyone living in any part of the world to participate in the enriching of the database.
B. A Directing Section, which represents a system of data entry and editing.
This part consists of a system of users' registration and grants different rights to those recorded here. It is intended for both the RAA staff and all those who will be linked with the organization via the Internet for the purpose of entering information into the database.
Besides the Database, RAA NGO also has its own bilingual (Armenian and English) Internet site at http://www.raa.am created in 2003. It briefly represents the organization's activity in all its spheres:
a. Activity
b. Books
c. Exhibitions
d. Articles
e. News
RAA FILM Despite the shortage of technical means, in 2005 the organization embarked upon film-shooting. The presentation of the films dedicated to Hambardzum Yeramian and Mr. Petros of Varag was held in Narekatsy Art Centre, earning the approval of both the audience and the local press.
The organization has also prepared a documentary on the destruction of Jugha Cemetery.
Restoration of Historical Monuments Another important field of the organization's activity is the restoration of Armenian historical monuments.
In the 1980s, RAA initiated and carried out the restoration of 7 churches and monasteries (including the monasteries of Tzortzor's St. Mariam the Holy Virgin, St. Thaddaeus the Apostle, St. Stephen the Protodeacon, the chapel of St. Sandukht, the church of Andreordi and another in Darashamb Village, etc.) in the north of Iran. This activity of the organization also includes the restoration of Teheran's 19th-century church of St. Gevorg and Vanak's St. Sargis.
Since the 1990s, 7 sanctuaries (Saghmosavank, St. Sargis Monastery of Ushi, Dadivank, Aparan's Sourb Khach, St. Minas of Tatev Village, etc.) have been restored in Armenia and Karabakh.
In 2006 RAA is planning to start the restoration of Hovhannavank, Aragatzotn Marz, Republic of Armenia.
Educational Activity RAA NGO has always ascribed great importance to the educational aspect of its activity. For that purpose, numerous lectures are periodically delivered in some schools and universities in Yerevan and other cities of the Republic of Armenia; Stepanakert, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, as well as a number of other similar institutions in 16 countries of the Diaspora.
A programme broadcast by Yerkir Media TV (Cognition for the sake of Preservation) pursues an educational-cognitive purpose.
The organization is actively involved in organizing exhibitions. In April 2005, 9 exhibitions, exposing the annihilation of the Armenian historical monuments in Western Armenia (Eastern Turkey) and Azerbaijan, were held in Armenia and abroad.
Dr. Armen Haghnazarian
Founding Director of the organization
Founding Director of the organization