SEARCH SYSTEM OF THE ARMENIAN HIGHLAND MONUMENTS

Vachian 16 Monuments

Georgia (Country) / Javakhk (District) / Akhalkalak (District) / Vachian (Village)

Location

Vachian extends 6 kilometres south-west of Akhalkalak in a straight line, at an altitude of 1,740 to 1,780 metres above sea level.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 471.

Historical Introduction
1595 y․

In 1595 the village comprised 17 houses and paid 19,500 akches to the State Treasury.

”გურჯისტანის ვილაიეთის დიდი დავთარი”, გვ. 214: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 471.

1703 — 1704 yy․

After the forced Islamisation of the local inhabitants, in the days of Village Head Khalil (1703 to 1704), the state tax exacted from them amounted to 6,000 akches.

”ჩილდირის ეიალეთის ჯაბა დავთარი 1694-1732 წწ.”, გვ. 108: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 471.

1899 — 1901 yy․

Although the earthquake of 19 December 1899 inflicted almost no harm on Vachian, it was nevertheless included in the list (1901) of those villages of Javakhk which were in need of relief and support.

«Մշակ», 1901, N 40, էջ 1: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 471.

1899 — 1900 yy․

The Ad Hoc Governmental Committee set up after the natural disaster of 1899 to 1900 ranked Vachian among the most heavily-stricken villages of Javakhk, taking into consideration the serious harm caused to its agriculture. According to the calculations of this body, 56 of the local houses (with 328 inhabitants) were in desperate need of most immediate aid.

Սալլիւմեան, Անբերրիութիւնը Ախալքալաքի գաւառում եւ նրա հետեւանքները, «Մուրճ», 1901, N 6, էջ 248-249: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 471.

Population
1829 — 1830 yy․

The ancestors of the present-day Armenians of Vachian moved to its territory from Tvanj Village, Karin Province, Western Armenia between 1829 and 1830.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.

Vachian participated in World War II with 415 of its inhabitants, 145 of whom were killed on the battle-field.

Դավթյան Ա., Ջավախք, Երևան, 1994, էջ 102: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.

Waterwork
1892 — 1895 yy․

Vachian can be considered the first among those villages in the neighbourhood of Akhalkalak which suffer from the shortage of water. A semi-swampy pool located in its vicinity is the only source of potable water for the local inhabitants: “The villagers use the water of this pond for both themselves and their animals since ... there are neither springs nor rivers [around the place]. Its water is ...tasteless: we can even say that it is rotten. It is this very water that the residents of Vachian use. What can these poor people do? They do not have any other [source of] water.” For this very reason, the cholera that burst out in 1892 took away a greater number of lives from Vachian, as compared to the other villages of the district. The fatal epidemic, which kept mowing down the peasants throughout forty days, infected 300 people, 100 of whom proved unable to overcome it. After having lived through its horror, in 1893 the inhabitants of the village even intended to leave it altogether and move to the region of Kars, following their compatriots from Chiflik: “[The residents of] Vachian Village want to resettle in the province of Ghars... The reason for their resettlement is water: the people of Vachian drink the water of a marsh, and many of them have grown addicted to rakhu fearing the consequences the use of that kind of water can bring forth.” Eventually, the inhabitants of Vachian gave up their intentions of resettlement and decided to convey potable water to their village from the tributary Karasnakn. They carried out this project in 1895: “As we have heard from trustworthy sources, the inhabitants of Vachian are [now] drying up the aforementioned pool and conveying water to their village from the stream Kerkh Bulakh (Forty Springs).”

«Նոր-Դար», 1895, N 128, էջ 3: «Արձագանք», 1893, N 18, էջ 1-2: According to another source, those who fell prey to cholera amounted to 150 («Արձագանք», 1893, N 12, էջ 2). Priest Arsen Belertsian writes the following about the bad effects of unhealthy drinking water: “...It was that rotten water that came to add to the harrowing destruction caused by the previous cholera epidemic...” («Նոր-Դար», 1895, N 128, էջ 3). «Արձագանք», 1893, N 12, էջ 2: Also see «Նոր-Դար», 1893, N 15, էջ 1, 1895, N 128, էջ 3: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, pp. 471-472.

Description
19 c․

In the late 19th century, the village of Vachian represented the following picture: “...All the houses are low, single-floor structures of stone with earthen roofs. These dwellings, which are built very close to each other, do not offer healthy living conditions at all. The irregular streets are narrow and crooked. The only remarkable buildings are the double-class state school and the village church, which is a simple monument both outwardly and inwardly... Around and in front of every house can be seen stored food, forage and fire-wood kept in reserve both for the villagers themselves and their numerous draught and dairy cattle: the piles of pressed dung, grass and hay also serve to counteract the strong winter winds and save the peasants the trouble of seeing snow covering their yards and falling into their houses. The roofs generally serve as means of communication. The inhabitants of Vachian are mainly engaged in husbandry, which is the only occupation they have... They work day and night—their fine-looking oxen and buffaloes plough the fields, while they themselves fertilise the soil with manure to sow it during the coming year. Thanks to the praiseworthy diligence of its residents, Vachian ranks first among the villages of the district.”

«Նոր-Դար», 1895, N 128, էջ 3: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 471.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2004 y․

The available statistical records reflecting the permanent growth of the village inhabitants between the 19th and 20th centuries are as follows:

Dates	Armenian Houses	Armenians (Male)	Armenians (Female)	Total (Armenians)	Notes	Source
1840		214	193	407		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3800, թ. 4: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1841		227	185	415		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3802, թ. 64-65: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1842		233	199	431		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3805, թ. 76-77: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1844		261	215	476		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3809, թ. 13-14: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1845		272	263	535		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3811, թ. 70-71: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1847		270	265	535		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3814, թ. 33-34: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1849		223	276	569		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3818, թ. 38-39: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1853		343	298	641		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 2743 թ. 38-39: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1854		355	302	657		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3825, թ. 49-50: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1857		381	337	718		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3830, թ. 52-53: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1860		411	365	776		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3833, թ. 66-67: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1861	88	420	385	805		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3839, թ. 23-24: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1862	88	432	399	831		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3836, թ. 20-21: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1863		440	419	859		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3843, թ. 21-22: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1864		446	424	870		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3846, թ. 10-11: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1865		457	427	884		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3848, թ. 11-12: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1866	88	457	427	884		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3848, թ. 74: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1867		471	451	922		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3851, թ. 21-22: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1868		485	461	946		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3853, թ. 27: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1869		499	474	973		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3856, թ. 9: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1870		507	488	925		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3857, թ. 23: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1871		514	498	1012		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3858, թ. 9-10: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1872		544	508	1052		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3859, թ. 56-57: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1873		561	525	1081		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3862, թ. 70-71: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1874				1101		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3864, թ. 25-26: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1875	130			1059		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3866, թ. 20-21: Also see «Մեղու Հայաստանի», 1875, N 44, էջ 2: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1876		579	529	1108		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3868, թ. 29-30: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1877		584	507	1091		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3869, թ. 28-29: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1878		602	455	1057		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3850, թ. 217-218: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1880		649	491	1140		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3872, թ. 86-87: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1881		674	491	1140		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3873, թ. 96-97: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1882		677	502	1179		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3874, թ. 42-43: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1883		686	500	1186	According to another source, the village had a population of 1,012 souls in the same year (“Кавказский календарь на 1885 г.”, Тифлис, 1884, стр. 204).	Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3875, թ. 47-48: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1884	133					«Արձագանք», 1885, N 3, էջ 41: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1885		717	531	1248		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3877, թ. 10: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1886				1321		“Кавказский календарь на 1894 г.”, Тифлис, 1893, стр. 156. Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1887		778	578	1356		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3880, թ. 39-40: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1889		794	581	1375		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3884, թ. 64-65: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1890		922	605	1527		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3887, թ. 143: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1891		941	623	1564		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3889, թ. 142: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1892		916	605	1521		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3891, թ. 114: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1893		928	622	1550		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3895, թ. 41-42: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1894		944	621	1565		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3896, թ. 167-168: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1895	187					«Նոր-Դար», 1895, N 128, էջ 2: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1897		968	672	1640		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3899, թ. 140-141: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1898		987	694	1681		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3897, թ. 162: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1899		998	701	1699		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3903, թ. 93-94: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1900		1023	730	1753		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3905, թ. 55: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1901		1042	747	1789		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3906, թ. 67: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1902		1083	760	1843		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3907, թ. 16-17: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1905		1175	923	2098		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3912, թ. 259-260: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1908	222	1211	958	2169		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 35, ց. 1, գ. 559, թ. 42: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1910		1290	1010	2300		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3917, թ. 134-135: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1912		1360	1073	2433		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3920, թ. 17-18: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1914		1415	1134	2549	As attested by another statistical source, Vachian had 2,720 inhabitants in the same year (“Кавказский календарь на 1915 г.”, Тифлис, 1914, стр. 104):	Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 56, ց. 6, գ. 1020, թ. 170-171: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1916		1425	1118	2543		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 196, ց. 1, գ. 43, թ. 17-18: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 473.
1918	310	1315	1328	2643		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 469, ց. 3, գ. 2, թ. 1-4: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1921		400	300	700		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 355, ց. 1, գ. 895, թ. 1: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 472.
1987	557			2257		According to the documents offered by the Village Council. Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 473.