SEARCH SYSTEM OF THE ARMENIAN HIGHLAND MONUMENTS

Gandza 13 Monuments

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

Location

The village of Gandza, which boasts a remarkable history, extends on the slightly slanting and south-west-looking slope of a gorge lying on the left bank of the river Parvana, 22 kilometres south-east of Akhalkalak, at an altitude of 2,020 to 2,070 metres above sea level. It is situated on an important transit road connecting Shirak and Akhaltskha with Treghk and Tpkhis. This road, which dates from at least the early Middle Ages, serves its purpose even nowadays.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 135.

Historical Introduction

One of the most famous villages in Javakhk, Gandza has earned itself this high repute not so much by its populousness, but thanks to its unsurpassed natural environment and magnificent church standing in its centre.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 135.

BC 3 — BC 2 yy․

A dragon stone, preserved at the north-western extremity of the village, and a castle of cyclopean masonry (known by the name of Kyoroghli), towering on the eastern skirts of Mount Pokr Abul (2,800 metres), 5 kilometres north-west of Gandza, at an altitude of 2,620 metres above sea level, attest that the territory of the village has been inhabited since the 3rd to 2nd millennia B.C. The former is known among the local people by the name of Sourb Sargis Katnakar.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 135.

The remains of a castle preserved in one of the quarters of Gandza, located near the riverside, as well as two small uni-nave vaulted churches standing in the middle of the village confirm that it used to represent a prospering place in the Middle Ages. Most presumably, these two sanctuaries, dating from the 12th to 14th centuries, were built to go with the peculiarities of the ritual of the Byzantine faith. Their walls retain inscriptions in Georgian Mesropian characters tracing back to the beginning of the 14th century.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 135.

1595 y․

In 1595 Gandza, whose population did not comprise any rayas, paid 6,000 akches to the State Treasury.

“გურjისტანის ვილაიეთის დიდი დავთარი”, էջ 234: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 135.

1966 y․

Since 1966 Gandza has been annually holding cultural events within the Days Dedicated to Terian. These solemn festivities, which take place at the end of July, are attended not only by the local inhabitants, but also by a great number of guests from all parts of Javakhk, as well as from Yerevan and Tbilisi.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 137.

Population
1877 — 1878 yy․

In the late Middle Ages, Gandza was inhabited by Muslims whose ancestors had penetrated into its territory from Borchalu in the 17th century. The Turkish elements remained living in the village until the Russo-Turkish war of 1877 to 1878, when they found it expedient to move to Turkey: “Most of the local residents are resettlers from Karin who are engaged in farming. Formerly, this village also comprised twenty houses of Turks, but they moved towards Zerlat and Cheldr prior to the war of 1877. At present the entire population of the village consists of adherents of the Armenian faith.” Armenians took up residence in Gandza as early as the 1830s (thus, the Terians’ forefathers were from Kerjnkots Village, Karin District).

«Նոր-Դար», 1888, N 194, 18 նոյեմբերի, էջ 2: Kerjnkots was an Armenian-inhabited village situated 11 kilometres north-west of Karin (Erzrum) City. Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, pp. 135-136.

1893 y․

In contrast to their compatriots living in the other villages of Javakhk, the Armenians of Gandza had permanent residence there and did not manifest tendencies towards resettlement. However, sometimes their number showed reduction: this was the case in 1893, when various infectious diseases took away many lives: “In late June, the scarlet fever and typhus started mowing down [the village population], as in the other villages of the district. Within several days, many houses were stripped of all their children. They had absolutely no access to any medical aid.”

«Արձագանք», 1893, N 115: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.

Gandza participated in World War II with 450 of its inhabitants, 195 of whom did not return from the battle-field.

Դավթյան Ա., Ջավախք, Երևան, 1994, էջ 101: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 137.

Outstanding Personalities

The village is the birthplace of outstanding Armenian poet Vahan Terian (1885 to 1920).

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 137.

Type Photo
View General
Direction From the south-west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․

Type Photo
View General
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․

A scene from the festivities held within the Days of Commemoration dedicated to the poet.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative

The quarter adjoining Sourb Karapet Church of the vIllage

The available data relating to the number of the Armenians of Gandza represent the following picture:

Dates	Armenian Houses	Armenians (Male)	Armenians (Female)	Total (Armenians)	Notes	Source
1841		98	95	193		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3802, թ. 64: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1842		105	101	206		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3805, թ. 79: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1844		119	113	232		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3809, թ. 16: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1845		162	170	332		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3811, թ. 71-72: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1847		170	180	350		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3814, թ. 33: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1849		180	176	356		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3818, թ. 39: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1851	21	176	169	345		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 56, ց. 1, գ. 2596, թ. 32: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1853		201	201	402		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 2743, թ. 38-39: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1854		208	208	416		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3825, թ. 47-48: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1857		228	246	474		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3830, թ. 52-53: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1860		238	231	469		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3833, թ. 67: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1861		282	275	557		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3839, թ. 24: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1862		290	280	570		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3836, թ. 21: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1863		288	280	570		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3843, թ. 20-21: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1864		288	280	568		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3846, թ. 10: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1866		299	287	586		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3848, թ. 74: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1867	52	308	291	599		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3851, թ. 21-22: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1868		340	304	644		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3853, թ. 27: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1869		350	307	657		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3856, թ. 9: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1870		370	329	699		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3857, թ. 23: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1873		385	335	720		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3862, թ. 70-71: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1875	81					«Մեղու Հայաստանի», 1875, N 44, էջ 2: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1878		492	457	949		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3850, թ. 217-218: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1884	81					«Արձագանք», 1885, N 3, էջ 41: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1887		629	553	1182		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3880, թ. 40-41: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1888	114			1200		«Նոր-Դար», 1888, N 194, էջ 2: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1889	114	657	589	1246		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3884, թ. 64-65: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1890	120	674	607	1381		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3887, թ. 145։ Also see «Նոր-Դար», 1890, N 196, էջ 2: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1891		702	628	1330		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3889, թ. 144: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1892		736	657	1393		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3891, թ. 116: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1893		692	631	1323		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3895, թ. 41-42: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1894		708	662	1370		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3896, թ. 169-170: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1897		769	716	1485		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3899, թ. 142-143: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1898		796	734	1530		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3897, թ. 164: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1899		805	760	1565		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3903, թ. 93-94: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1900		785	750	1535		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3905, թ. 55: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1901		807	777	1584		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3906, թ. 68: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1902	165	836	803	1639		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3907, թ. 18-19; «Նոր-Դար», 1902, N 47, էջ 3: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1905		911	877	1788		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3912, թ. 261-262: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1908	201	934	905	1839		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 35, ց. 1, գ. 559, թ. 43: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1910		1055	993	2048		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3917, թ. 135-136: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1912		1104	1052	2156		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 53, ց. 1, գ. 3920, թ. 18-19: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1914				2225		“Кавказский календарь на 1915 г.”, Тифлис, 1914, էջ 133: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1916		1203	1109	2312		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 196, ց. 1, գ. 43, թ. 19-20: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1918	250					Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 469, ց. 3, գ. 2, թ. 1-4: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1921		420	380	800		Հայաստանի ազգային դիվան, (National Archives of Armenia), ֆ. 355, ց. 1, գ. 895, թ. 1: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1926	346			1812		Արոյան Ս., Բեկորներ Մշո ջոջ քարի, Երևան, 1997, էջ 123: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.
1991				3600		«Հայրենիքի ձայն», 1991, 21 օգոստոսի: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 136.