Kaghni Khach Monastery :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Kaghni Khach Monastery 1847 — 1930 yy․

Azerbaijan / Northern Artsakh / Dashkesan / Kirants

Location

The monastery of Kaghni Khach (‘Standing Cross’ in the Karabakh dialect) is situated in a small gorge a kilometre south-west of Kirants.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 199.

Description
1853 y․

An archive document of 1853 provides the first comparatively detailed description of the sanctuary: “…this cloister, surrounded by the graves of the members of monastic community, i.e. bishops, archimandrites, priors, etc., is located within about half a verst of Kirants Village. It consists of a church having a stone gavit at present semi-destroyed, as well as five small and large cells and dwellings once housing the monks, but now lying in ruins. …A little far from the monastery, a chapel rises over the graves of three holy martyrs, now consigned to oblivion. Their inscribed tombstones attract pilgrims from various places: they kiss the stones in token of love for those saints…”

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 2742, p. 14.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 200.

1886 y․

Another record states, “Two small stone chapels stand within several steps of each other in a forest located at a distance of two versts from the village. A big khachkar can be seen near one of these sanctuaries, which are famous pilgrimage sites. According to some people, they retain the remains of a boy and his sister, but we failed to find out who they had been. On an adjacent plateau north of these monuments stands another stone chapel, which is considered a monastery among the local people. It functioned until 1838. …Some semi-ruined cells and annexes can be seen west and south of this sanctuary.”

"Ardzagank," 1886, No. 21, p. 310.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 200-201.

Historical Introduction

It is traditionally assumed that one of Gardman’s prominent princes reposes in the monastery of Kaghni Khach: “…the holy remains of an honourable person are said to rest in eternal peace below the bema. People believe it is the grave of prince of Gardman District Khurs, who once owned a large number of mines.”

Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 288.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 201.

Congregation
1834 y․

Once the functioning monastery had a Father Superior and a community, which lived there until 1834 or 1838. With this connection, a record states, “This document has been signed by some people of advanced age who reliably attest that within 70 years from 1834 onwards (namely, between 1764 and 1834 - S. K.), the following priors and monks dwelled in the cloister: Bishop Simeon Odznetsy as well as Archimandrites Yeprem Khachabaktsy, Kostand Shamkoretsy and Karapet Melik-Babayan. The last of these people mentioned passed away in 1834 and was buried in the monastery by …Archimandrite Sargis Davtiants.”

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 2742, p. 14.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 202.

Estates
1853 y․

The aforementioned archive document (1853) contains valuable information on the domains of Kaghni Khach Monastery, particularly stating the following, “…as attested by some honourable inhabitants of Kirants ... and others from the villages adjoining Yelizavetpol, the estates of the sanctuary bordered on a site called Bazkakar in the east. Its community lived on the income yielded by its arable lands, woods, etc. They also received a certain amount of money from those involved in lime business...”

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 2742, p. 14.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 203.

Lapidary Inscriptions
1853 y․

The earliest record bearing reference to the lapidary inscriptions of the monastery dates back to 1853: “The walls of some buildings, at present totally dilapidated due to their old age, are engraved with inscriptions, presumably, containing information on two standing cross-stones.” Unfortunately, however, the author of the aforementioned lines confined himself to only copying the years inscribed on the aforementioned khachkars.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 2742, p. 14.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 203.

Type Photo
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Type Measurement
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Sketch
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Plan

Type Photo
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Kangneal Khach