The “Kohak” Sanctuary of Chartar

Historical overview

The monument represents the remains of a ruined church (Fig. 3). Within the rubble, three khachkars and the base (pedestal) of one khachkar have been preserved. One khachkar dates to the 9th–10th centuries (Fig. 4), another to the 13th century, while the third is modern (Fig. 5).

Architectural-Compositional Examination

Despite the severe destruction, the outline of a single-nave hall church can still be discerned (Fig. 3). Traces indicate an east–west–oriented structure measuring approximately 10.0 × 6.0 m. On the eastern façade, a two-tiered masonry arrangement built of large stones is visible, resembling a stylobate-like substructure.

The condition before, during, and after the war

Before the war, only the church foundations were visible.

Bibliographical Examination

Owing to its poor state of preservation, the monument has largely remained outside scholarly attention. The present description is based on the information recorded in the monument’s certificate compiled by the Republic of Artsakh Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports.