CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL HERITAGE OF
NAGORNO KARABAGH
Historically,
Karabagh was the north-eastern province of Armenia.
The establishment
of the similar forms of economic activities, customs and habits, as well as
the general mentality of its inhabitants served as the background on the basis
of which Nagorno Karabagh (Artsakh), together with the other regions, represents
an integral part of Armenia in the cultural, economic and linguistic aspects.
The numerous archeological documents of the eneolite, bronze and iron ages
prove that the culture of Nagorno Karabagh, in essence, is one of the branches
of the Armenian culture as a whole and has many parallels with the monuments
of the Armenian highlands of the same periods. Below the cultural monuments
preserved in the territory of Artsakh Principality are considered.
The ancestors
of the modern Armenians of Karabagh, despite the endless wars in the past,
have bequeathed a surprisingly rich cultural heritage. Only in the territory
of the former Nagorno Karabagh Autonomous Region (NKAO) with the area of 4,500
km2 (insignificantly larger than 1/3 of the entire territory of Nagorno Karabagh)
at least 1700 historical-architectural monuments, in particular, fortresses,
monastery complexes, churches and chapels, bridges, castles, a big number
of khachkars (cross stones), over 1000 units of inscriptions and epitaphs
in the Old Armenian language have been preserved. The majority of the survived
monuments of Artsakh constitute Christian cult edifices which chronologically
encompass all stages of the medieval history starting from the 4th century
when Christianity was promulgated as a state religion in Armenia. These monuments
include around 60 monastery complexes and over 500 churches.
Among the monuments
of the pre-Christian period remnants of primitive tribal colonies, ruins of
ancient Armenian settlements, including the ones belonging to the period of
Ararat Kingdom (Urartu) and the succeeding Armenian kingdom of Yervanids,
sepulchres, cult statuettes of the Early Armenian age, boundary stones dating
back to the Armenian Dynasty of Artashesids, as well as caps, various household
utensils and coins are noteworthy. Thus, the summer residence of the Ararat
king Rusa I (1st thousand year B.C.) was based in the territory of modern
Istisu (Kelbajar). The town of Tigranakert is the largest and most famous
settlement in the territory of Artsakh belonging to the pre-Christian period.
It was founded by the Armenian king Tigran II in the year 95 B.C. The ruined
of Tigranakert were found in the territory of the present region Aghdam near
the border of NKR.
The creative activities
of the Armenian princes of Artsakh continued during the period of the Arabic
reign. The following cultural centers developed under the patronage of the
Armenian aristocratic dynasties: Amaras, Tsitsernavank (Tashatagh region,
NKR), Gtich (Hadrut region, NKR), monasteries Urek and Gandzasar (Mardakert
region, NKR), monasteries Dadi and Khada in Vaikunik, etc. Among the more
famous fortresses of Artsakh are Shikakar, Khachenaberd, Tigranaberd, Tsiranakar,
Aknaberd, Levonaberd, Jraberd, the fortresses of Gyulistan, Farisos, Dizapayt
and many others.
At the end of
the 9th century, after the liberation from the Arabic yoke Artsakh became
one of the eastern provinces of the Armenian kingdom of Bagratids. During
this period the famous architectural complex of the region, Targmanchats Monastery
(989) and Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Virgin) Church of Haghartsin (1071) were
constructed.
The 12th - 13th
centuries were more favorable for the development of culture in Artsakh. The
Armenian medieval literature and historiography was worthily presented in
Artsakh by Movses Kalantatvatsi, Movses Daskhurantsi, Kirakos Gandzaketsi,
Vardan Areveltsi, Grigor Aknetsi, Stepanos Orbelian and Mkhitar Ayrivanetsi.
The name of Mkhitar Gosh, an outstanding lawyer, the author of "Book
of Codes" who had major contribution to the development of the science
of law in Europe and Old Russia is also associated with Artsakh. The monastery
complexes, such as Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Virgin) church of Makaravank (1198),
Surb Nshan (Holy Sign) temple of Varagavank (1190-1200), John the Baptizer's
Cathedral which contributes to the glamour of Gandzasar (1216-1238), Katoghike
Khoranashat (1211-1222), the church of Goshavank (1191-1241), the cathedral
of the famous Dadivank Monastery (1214), the main church of Gtchavank (1241-1248),
the gorgeous cross stones of Bri Yeghtsi Complex (1230-1270), the cathedral
of Khadavank, etc. have been recognized as masterpieces of the Artsakh school
of architecture.
Before the beginning
of the 9th century Portav (currently town Barda in the territory of Azerbaijan)
was the spiritual center of the eastern Armenian regions. Later, in the 14th
century it was moved to Gandzasar Monastery with the Gandzasar Mother Seat.
The art of the Artsakh architects was highly estimated by Charles Dille, a
famous expert of the Byzantine culture (end of 19th century) and professor
of the Sorbonne University. Charles Dille noted that Gandzasar was the third
among the five preserved monuments of the Armenian architecture which was
included in the treasury of the world culture.
From the end of
the 16th century a specific administrative-political system, "the melikdoms",
were established in Artsakh. During that period in Nagorno Karabagh mainly
churches without cupolas in basilica style were built. Only six cupola churches
have been preserved. They date back to the 17th century and two of these churches
which are in North Artsakh.
In the middle
of the 18th century Panakh Ali, the chieftain of one of the nomadic tribes,
took advantage of the internecine dissension between the Karabagh meliks and
settled here. Approximately during the same period the nomadic tribes of Turkish
and Kurdish origin penetrated into the western regions of Artsakh. In Berdadzor,
Vaykunik and several other provinces of Artsakh hundreds of villages were
destroyed. Only in the territory of Kelbajar the ruins of over 60 Armenian
settlements are preserved, including town Tsar. Archeologist Y.G. Pchelina
from Leningrad (presently St. Petersburg) wrote in 1940 about the ruins of
Tsar, including the dwellings curved out directly in rocks: "Numerous
dwelling caves, ruins of settlements, fortress walls and churches are indicative
of the active life in the presently deserted areas. Unfortunately, the vast
majority of the survived monuments is has neither been investigated nor even
recorded... Large Armenian cemeteries stretch around the half-ruined churches
or in separate places" (cf.: Y.G. Pchelina, "Armenian Monuments
in the Territory of Azerbijani SSR" in "Works of Oriental Department
of Hermitage" Publication, 1940, vol. 30, p. 243).
The newcomers
did not perceive and adopt the local material and spiritual values which were
completely alien to them. Even two centuries later neither in Kelbajar nor
Lachin regions any marked traces of the Moslem or Turkish culture could be
seen.
Thus, until the
middle of the 18th century no Tatars (this is how the Azerbaijani were called
before the 1920s') and Moslems of other nationalities lived in Nagorno Karabagh.
This fact is not denied even in the chronicles of khan and the Azerbaijani
historians of the pre-Revolutionary period. Therefore, in the whole territory
of Nagorno Karabagh there are no monuments of the Islamic or specifically
of any Turkish culture which date back earlier than the second half of the
18th century.
A new renaissance
in the social and economic life of Artsakh started in the 19th century. The
following statistics are indicative of the spiritual life of this period:
in 1914 the Artsakh Eparchy of the Armenian Apostolic Church had 222 functional
churches and temples, 188 clergymen serviced 206,768 parishioners in 224 Armenian
settlements.
In the 19th century
the role of Shushi, the only town in Karabagh, increased as it became one
of the centers of the Armenian culture and education in Caucasus.
From 1828 Armenian
books and periodicals (magazines and newspapers) were published in Shushi.
An eparchic Armenian school (1838) and an Armenian theater (1891) were opened.
Jamharian's hospital started functioning from 1900. In addition, a real school,
unisex high schools for girls and boys were established. Kusants Monastery
(1818), the building of Communal Assembly with its summer and winter clubs,
five cupola churches and two mosques were erected. Temple Kazanchetsots (1868-1887)
is recognized as one of the most glamorous churches in Transcaucasus. In the
Armenian culture decorative and applied arts of Artsakh school highly developed.
Items from local natural silk, carpets, tapestries, gold and silver jewelry,
including the ones made in the past were more than once displayed and highly
appraised at international exhibitions and fairs in Moscow, Philadelphia and
Paris.
At the beginning
of the 20th century there are already a number of large settlements and villages
(with public and dwelling constructions of urban type), bridges, churches,
schools and houses with interesting architectural solutions.
In May, 1920 the
Soviet power was established in Karabagh, and in 1923 Nagorno-Karabagh Autonomous
Region (NKAO) within Azerbaijani SSR was founded. The social-economic policy
run in NKAO by Azerbaijani SSR was the continuation of the nationalistic discriminative
policy which aimed at the repression the Armenian populace and its displacement
from the territory of its regular habitation.
The cultural heritage was concealed from the people. As to the history and
culture of NKAO, the undeclared principle was followed: "Everything that
is within Azerbaijan shall be of Azerbaijani origin".
The interference
in the spiritual and cultural life of the region, the suppression of the national
self-respect, the rude falsification of the history: such was the policy of
Azerbaijan in the sphere of culture. In all official bulletins of the Azerbaijani
SSR the authentic population of the republic was acknowledged as the Azerbaijani.
The transmission of radio and TV programs broadcast from Yerevan was prohibited.
Actually, there were no cultural or spiritual relations with Armenia. The
Armenian schools were being closed. Thus, 46 schools in the region had been
liquidated since 1960. The school subject "History of Armenia" was
replaced with History of Azerbaijan in all curriculums. In the Law on NKAO
there was no indication of the official language of Karabagh.
The anti-Armenian
policy run by the Azerbiajani authorities did not bypass even the historical
monuments of Nagorno Karabagh. According to the preliminary data, the total
number of the historical-architectural monuments of NKAO, mainly churches
and monastery complexes, is at least 1700. These monuments were not included
in the list of monuments protected by the government of the Azerbaijani SSR.
Moreover, they were recognized as "the dangerous religious center of
the past" by a special commission of the Academy of Sciences of AzSSR.
Many of these
monuments were built in the medieval ages and played a unique role in the
history of Armenia. Not only the narrative sources of various ages, but also
the inscriptions on these sources which exceed 1000 units in number evidence
the ethnic and cultural origin of these monuments.
By ignoring the monuments
of the material Armenian culture the chronology of which covered the period
from the ancient ages to the 19th century, Azerbaijan attempted to create
the misimpression that Nagorno Karabagh was not inhabited by the Armenians
before the 18th century. Besides, due to the efforts of the Azerbiajani authorities
on "Islamization" of the culture of the region these monuments were
ascribed to the Albanian culture which, in turn, were quite groundlessly attributed
to the material culture of the Azerbaijani people. In the Soviet period the
expansive and consistent destruction of the Armenian monuments began. Only
in the territory of the region hundreds of churches, monastery complexes,
graveyards were blown up, destroyed or entirely demolished. Hundreds of cross
stones were used as construction material. The primitive settlements in caves
in Tstsakhach, Mets Taglar and Azokh were damaged. The crypt of St. Grigoris
(5th century) in Amaras Monastery was destroyed. After the mid-30s' there
was not a single functional church in Nagorno Karabagh as opposed to the mosques
which functioned in Shushi. This is a vivid demonstration of the discriminative
policy run by Azerbaijan.
Source: Official site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh
