SEARCH SYSTEM OF THE ARMENIAN HIGHLAND MONUMENTS

Kokia 21 Monuments

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

Location

The village lies in a fertile land at the foot of a mountain chain facing south-eastward and extending between 1,760 and 1,820 metres of altitude above sea level, 18 kilometres north-west of Akhalkalak in a straight line.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 298.

Historical Introduction
1595 y․

A spacious Armenian graveyard, located at the north-western extremity of Kokia and abounding in khachkars dating from the 15th to 16th centuries, attests that it represented an Armenian-populated prosperous village during this period. In 1595 it comprised 18 houses and paid 15,000 akches to the State Treasury. Most probably, part of the Armenian residents of Kokia converted to Islam in the first half of the 17th century, following the example of their compatriots living in the other villages of the district. Despite this, however, it remained as one of the most important villages of Javakhk due to its location on a transit road.

“გურჯისტანის ვილაიეთის დიდი დავთარი”, p. 191-192. Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 298.

1745 y․

As attested by a record of 1745, “...Gokia is a small town inhabited by Meskhetian, Armenian and Jewish merchants...”

Մելիքսեթ-Բեկ Լ., Վրաց աղբյուրները Հայաստանի և հայերի մասին, հ. Գ, Երևան, 1955, էջ 84։ Also see ვახუშტი ბაგრატიონი, საქართველოს გეოგრაფია, էջ 131: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 298.

1755 y․

As stated in another source of 1755, “...the Lezghins, who are devastating the Turkish lands, have spread ruin and depredation in Gokia (Kokia) and Baralet, the Christians being robbed and taken prisoner...”

Մելիքսեթ-Բեկ Լ., Վրաց աղբյուրները Հայաստանի և հայերի մասին, հ. Գ, Երևան, 1955, էջ 108: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 298.

1870 y․

Subsequently Kokia is mentioned as a village inhabited by Turks. In the 1870s, it belonged to landowner Kemel oghli, who held possession of an area of 800 dessiatinas.

«Մեղու Հայաստանի», 1873, N 6, էջ 3: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 298.

Population
1914 y․

In 1914 Kokia, which represented a village of a purely Turkish or Islamised population, comprised 511 souls.

“Кавказский календарь на 1915 г.”, Тифлис, 1914, էջ 144: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 298.

1918 — 1924 yy․

Its present-day inhabitants confirm that the Turks lived here until the year 1924, when most of them emigrated to Turkey, with the exception of 5 “aghas.” In contrast to this, N. Berdzenishvili states that the majority of the Turkish residents of Kokia moved away in 1918. In 1924 the village provided home for some Ossetians most of whom went back 4 years later.

In 1933 the population of Kokia still comprised between 2 and 3 houses of OssetiansIn 1933 the population of Kokia still comprised between 2 and 3 houses of OssetiansIn 1933 the population of Kokia still comprised between 2 and 3 houses of OssetiansIn 1933 the population of Kokia still comprised between 2 and 3 houses of Ossetians (ბერძენიშვილი ნ.,idem, p. 155), who later left the village, following their compatriots’ example. Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 298.

Between 1927 and 1928, Kokia was re-inhabited by Armenian families from Khach, Ghabur and Ashkhala Villages, Tzaghka District, as well as by a number of Georgians and Georgian-speaking Armenian Catholics from Andriatzminda (Akhaltskha), Gogashen (Javakhk) and Khezabavra (Aspindza). As early as the 1930s, it also comprised between 2 and 3 houses of Greek inhabitants who moved to Tsikhisjvari and Akhaltskha in the course of time (the last Greek family left Kokia in 1952). As for the aforementioned Turkish “aghas,” they were exiled into Altai in 1944. In the late 1940s, the local population consisted of about 50 Armenian and 30 Georgian houses. During the post-war period, most of these Georgians moved to the fertile, garden-rich villages of Adigen District—a privilege rejected to Armenians—which lay unoccupied in the aftermath of the banishment of their Turkish residents. As a result, the number of the Georgians was drastically reduced in Kokia, being followed by the closing of the local Georgian school. It is interesting to note that by the early 1930s, the Armenian language had come to replace Turkish as the predominant means of communication in this village of a poly-ethnic population.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Lusik Abgar Hakobian, a native of Kokia (born in 1928), for providing us with information relating to the recent history of the village. As alleged by a certain Mayisuradze, until 1971 the local population included 85 houses of Georgians who proved unable to get accustomed to the Armenian-spirited atmosphere of Javakheti and were driven away from the village within 5 years’ time (1971 to 1976)... See (მაისურაძე კ., ჯავახეთში ქართული სკოლები იხურება, “Georgian Times”, 17-24.06.2004, N 24: ): ბერძენიშვილი ნ., idem, p. 155. Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, pp. 298-299.

1987 y․

In 1987 the almost purely Armenian-inhabited village had 119 houses with 564 souls.

The information has been provided by the Village Council. Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 299.

1989 y․

In 1989 the Georgian authorities attempted to build houses for Ajar resettlers in Kokia as well, but they immediately encountered the local Armenians’ resistance so that their plans eventually failed.

მაისურაძე კ., ჯავახეთში ქართული სკოლები იხურება, “Georgian Times”, 17-24.06.2004, N 24. Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 299.

2001 — 2004 yy․

In 2001 Kokia had a total of 120 houses, 116 of which belonged to Armenians and 4 to Georgians. In 2004 it comprised 110 Armenian and 5 Georgian families.

According to the documents kept at the Village Council. მაისურაძე კ., ჯავახეთში ქართული სკოლები იხურება, “Georgian Times”, 17-24.06.2004, N 24: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 299.

Monuments

Kokia and its neighbourhood used to retain 7 destroyed churches, one of which is located at the western extremity of the village.

Ростомов И., Ахалкалакский уезд в археологическом отношении.– Сборник Материалов для Описания Местностей и Племен Кавказа, вып. XXV, 1898, стр. 54. Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 299.

Other ruined churches can be seen in the ancient sites of Ziarat, Tarboghoz, Mirtazin Chayir and Chatal Ghoyan.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 303.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the north
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․