Book on Lost Monuments of Nagorno-Karabakh Published in Yerevan

The first book-album "Artsakh: Endangered Heritage", published on the initiative of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in three languages, contains information about 48 monuments in Nagorno-Karabakh.

As "Caucasian Knot" wrote, on August 13, activists reported the demolition of 25 monuments in Karabakh. Earlier, in July, it became known about the demolition of a monument to Russian marine artist Ivan Aivazovsky.

The Artsakh (Karabakh) Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, together with the Russian organization "Dialogue", published a book-album in Yerevan called "Artsakh: Endangered Heritage." It presents some Armenian historical and cultural monuments that have already been destroyed or are under threat of destruction in various settlements of Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan gained control over these territories.

The book was prepared and published with the support of the president of the Dialogue organization Yuri Navoyan, the compilers of the book were Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Vahram Balayan, Director of the Artsakh Diocesan Chancellery, Doctor of Philosophy Melania Balayan and Chairman of the Artsakh Diocesan Council Lernik Hovhannisyan, according to a publication on the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church social network page.

The publication can be purchased at the spiritual center of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Echmiadzin or at the office of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Yerevan, Melania Balayan told the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot".

"The book is published in three languages - Armenian, Russian and English - in a print run of 500 copies. It includes information and photo materials about 48 monuments of the Armenian material cultural heritage of Artsakh (the self-name of Nagorno-Karabakh), which have already been destroyed or are under threat of destruction as a result of the genocidal policy of Azerbaijan. The book presents only a small part of the monuments. The Artsakh Diocese is planning a series of publications on the cultural heritage of Artsakh that is under threat of extinction,” Balayan noted.

The Office of the Ombudsman for Cultural Heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh reported that it “identified more than 800 cases of vandalism” in the region by studying satellite images, as well as photos and videos published on Azerbaijani information platforms.

“During and after the large-scale war in 2020 and after the forced displacement of Artsakh Armenians in 2023, more than 800 cases of vandalism were recorded. This concept includes the deliberate destruction, disfigurement, desecration, change of functions and appropriation of churches, khachkars, cemeteries, memorials, monumental monuments, memorial complexes, bas-reliefs, residential areas, entire settlements, as well as educational, cultural and state institutions and other historical buildings. Visible examples testify to the organized and state nature of this policy," the Office of the Ombudsman for Cultural Heritage of Karabakh stated.

In particular, according to the Office, the Surb Astvatsatsin Zoravor Church in Jrakan, the Surb Hovhannes Mkrtich ("Green Hour") Church in Shushi, the Surb Sargis Church in Mokhrenes, the Tandzatap Church in the Kashatagh region and the Surb Ambardzman Church in Berdzor were completely destroyed as a result of the use of heavy military and construction equipment. More than 20 monasteries and churches have been desecrated and looted, ten settlements have been completely or partially destroyed.

“The above list is not complete, it is regularly updated with new facts. Numerous monuments, memorials, cemeteries, khachkars and other historical and cultural monuments have been recorded that have been destroyed and desecrated. We are dealing with one of the largest and most dangerous cultural genocides of the 21st century and we can say that this is one of the largest cultural genocides ever recorded in history. It is time for the international community not to be content with empty and formal calls, but to take real and practical steps, including the application of international sanctions, the immediate dispatch of independent expert missions and the use of legal mechanisms to protect monuments,” said Ombudsman for the Cultural Heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh Ovik Avanesov to a “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

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