Monitoring of the border monuments of the Republic of Armenia > The four khachkars of Khnatsakh village

The four khachkars of Khnatsakh village

Location

The Khnatsakh village is situated in the Syunik region of the Republic of Armenia, approximately 109 km from the regional center of Kapan, 17 km from the center of the enlarged community of Tegh village, and 28 km from the city of Goris. It is 1380 meters above sea level. Among the many monuments in the area, the four valuable khachkars erected on the heights overlooking the village are particularly notable (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1 The Khnatsakh village and khachkars, photo by Monumentwatch group.

Historical overview

According to Stepanos Orbelyan, the village of Khnatsakh was considered part of the Haband province and was listed in the tax records with a levy of 20 units (Orbelian 1910, 399).

During the 15th to 18th centuries, the Kashatagh principality flourished as a predominantly Armenian-inhabited, semi-independent entity. Its administrative centers were the settlements of Kashatagh and Khnatsakh, governed by the Melik-Haykazian princely family. This princely family traced its lineage back to Prince Haykaz, a descendant of the Khalgbakian-Proshyan princely family, as documented in historical sources from the 15th to 17th centuries (Hovsepyan, 1928, 232).

The role of Khnatsakh in Syunik increased notably during the 16th century, when Melik HHakhnazar, son of Melik Haykaz, relocated the center of the melikdom from Kashatagh town to Khnatsakh and constructed a new mansion (Hasratyan 1985, 158).

Մելիքանիստ գյուղի պատմության վերաբերյալ կարևոր մանրամասներ են հաղորդում նաև չորս արժեքավոր խաչքարերը (նկ․ 2)։

Fig. 2 The location of the four khachkars, a photo from the Google Earth application.

  1. The Khachkar of 1301

Erected on Motal-Ghaya Hill in Jumants Kal (Baghdasaryans' yard;  Khurshudean 2023, 222, fig. 3), this khachkar rests upon a large, natural boulder serving as its pedestal. The central cross, embellished with three buds and a palm-shaped cross, has three small crosses carved below it. Beneath these are depicted three larger, single-lobed crosses. Between them is an inscription dated "750" (which corresponds to 1301). The main inscription runs along the edge: "By the will of God, I, Okan, erected this cross for the salvation of my soul. Remember me in your prayers to Christ" (Asratyan 1985, 161; Khurshudyan 2023, 222). Asratyan identifies the patron's name, Okan, as Ukan and attributes it to the youngest son of Vahram Shakhurnetsi and Gontsy (Hasratyan 1985, 161).

Fig. 3 The khachkar of 1301. Photo by the Monumentwatch group.

  1. The Khachkar of 1581

The khachkar was erected on a hill called Chghats-Khut; currently, only the cornice of the khachkar with its inscription remains at this location (Fig. 4). On May 10, 1985, the khachkar was struck by lightning. Subsequently, on May 10, 1987, another khachkar was brought from a monument called Khacher and erected in place of the previous one (Khurshudyan 2023, 221; Fig. 5). The full inscription of the khachkar was published by M. Asratyan: "I, Hakhnazar, erected this cross for my cousin Guli in 1030 (1581)" (Asratyan 1985, 163). According to Hasratyan, Hakhnazar, who commissioned the khachkar, is the grandson of Melik Hakhnazar, the son of Melik Haykaz by his first wife, and brother of Agan. Guli (Allahguli) is identified as the younger brother of Melik Haykaz (Hasratyan 1985, 163).

Fig. 4 The cornice preserved from the Khachkar of 1581, photo by the Monumentwatch group.

  1. The Khachkar of 1601

The third khachkar was erected on the hill of Yughnatu-khut (Fig. 6). In the upper part of the central cross with wings, on the edges of which there are three buds, two rosettes are depicted. Simple crosses are carved on both sides and in the lower part. Above the central cross and the protruding cornice, there is an inscription that has weathered over time: "I, Melik Gima, erected this holy cross for my father, Ginos, in the year 1059 (1601)" (Khurshudyan 2023, 223). Ginos, according to M. Hasratyan, was the son of Melik Hakhnazar, the brother of Melik Haykaz (Hasratyan 1985, 163).

Fig. 5 The moved Khachkar of 1987, photo by the Monumentwatch group.

Fig. 6 The khachkar of 1601, photo from the hushardzan.am website.

  1. The 1620 Khachkar

This khachkar is located on a hill in the northeastern part of the village (Fig. 7). Its composition closely resembles other examples from the preceding centuries and those from the 16th–17th centuries within the region. Notably, the khachkar features extensive bilingual inscriptions, distinguishing it from its contemporaries. The Persian portion of the inscription is situated along the border of the central cross and comprises three lines in the lower section. This segment warrants a dedicated and detailed examination. The Armenian inscription is located in the upper section of the monument, positioned above the central cross. It states that during the reign of Shah Abbas, Agha, the son of Melik Haykaz, erected this cross in honor of the Reverend Vardapet Poghos, seeking his intercession before the Lord on behalf of a Christian. The inscription dates to 1169 (1620) in the Armenian calendar. Melik Haykaz is identified as the ruler of this region (Hasratyan, 1985, 164). The author of the inscription, Agha, was the son of Melik Haykaz from his first wife and the brother of Hakhnazar, who authored the 1581 khachkar (Hasratyan, 1985, 164).

Fig. 7 The khachkar of 1620, photo from the hushardzan.am website.

Bibliographic examination

The khachkars erected on the four hills surrounding the village of Khnatsakh, along with their inscriptions, offer valuable insights into the history of the settlement and the Melik-Haykazyan dynasty. Notably, the Persian inscription on the khachkar from 1620 has not been examined by any known authors and requires a separate study.

The condition following the Azerbaijani aggression in 2020-2022

After the 44-day Artsakh War and the subsequent border changes, the precious khachkars on the four hills surrounding the village of Khnatsakh are now located just 400 to 960 meters from the border.

Bibliography

    1. Khurshudean 2023 - Khurshudean A., Historical and cultural heritage of Khnatsakh, "Zion", No. 4-7, Jerusalem.
    2. Hasratyan 1985 - Hasratyan M., Historical-archaeological studies, Yerevan.
    3. Hovsepyan 1928 - Hovsepyan G., Khagbakyans or Proshyans in the history of Armenia, part A, Vagharshapat.
    4. Orbelian 1910 - Stepanos Orbelian, History of the Province of Syunik, Tiflis.