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Velistsikhe 24 Monuments

Georgia (Country) / Kakhet (Marz (Region)) / Gurjaan (District) / Velistsikhe (Village)

Location

It is situated on the right bank of the river Alazan, within about 5 km from the riverside, in a fertile plain 7-8 km northwest of the district centre, at an altitude of 380 m above sea level.

Samvel Karapetian, Kakhet Armenians, Yerevan, 2004, p. 38. The original in Armenian.

Population
1660 y․

The exact time of the Armenians’ settlement there is vague: presumably, it traces as far back as the 16th-17th centuries or still earlier. A record mentions Velistsikhe inhabitant Sargis Ter-Arakeliants in 1660.

Mesrop Mashtots Matenadaran (Armenian Repository of Ancient Manuscripts, Collection of Patriarchal Documents, folder 1, archive document 79. The original in Armenian.

1914 y․

1874 y․

1881 y․

1904 y․

1988 y․

1818 y․

1862 y․

One of the village elders, Vano Arutiunov, says that their family moved to Velistsikhe from Artsakh. “They have been living here since times immemorial, allegedly, since king Heracle’s times. Uncle Vano’s grandfather told him that their ancestors were natives of Artsakh, Mountainous Karabakh, whence the whole village resettled in these areas under Heracle II.”

“Khorhrdayin Vrastan”, 6 March 1990. The original in Armenian.

1802 y․

Velistsikhe is the largest Armenian village in Kakhet. One of the first written records on the Armenians’ presence there dates back to 1802: already early in the 19th century, about 100 Armenian families lived there.

Archive Documents compiled by the Caucasian Archaeographical Commission, vol. 1, 1866, p. 472. The original in Russian.

Construction Activity
1890 y․

Velistsikhe has always occupied a special position among the adjacent villages thanks to its well-built streets and houses. An eye-witness who visited it in 1890 writes that “The accomplishment that strikes an observer everywhere in Velistsikhe Village ranks it high throughout Kakhet… .It is located in a flat area, but the buildings and their large yards are scattered here and there. The streets are wide, clean and almost straight. Village elder Mr. M. Kalantarian seems to have made strenuous efforts for the pleasant appearance of the village… .”

“Nor-Dar”, 1890, № 51, p. 2. The original in Armenian.

Waterwork

Through H. Ohanians’ attempts Velistsikhe was “granted” an abundant spring. With that regard the record states, “In the long run, Mr. H. Ohanian invited engineer Kurdiany, who designed and built a spring through the support of local merchants Mamisov and the clergy. It is so fast and abundant that its waters can turn a wheel… . ”

“Horizon”, 1912, № 111, p. 4. The original in Armenian.

Occupation
1881 y․

In 1881 Velistsikhe Company of wine industry and export was founded in Golovinsky Avenue, Tiflis, I. Yegor Ohanian’s vineyards supplying them with raw materials.

“Tifliski Listok”, 1902, № 85, p. 3. The original in Russian. In 1896 landowner Yegor Ohanian from Velistsikhe fell victim to an accident and was buried in the yard of Sourb Astvatzatzin (Holy Virgin) Church.

1849 y․

Just like many other villages in Kakhet, Velistsikhe was famous for its vineyards and viticulture. In that respect archimandrite Hovhannes Arsharuny wrote the following in 1849, “…everybody is engaged in trade and has many gardens and lands… In general, almost every inhabitant of Armenia and Georgia maintains many gardens, which amount to 5, 4, 6 and even 10, so all of them live in unison… .”

“Bazmavep”, 1851, № 20, p. 317. The original in Armenian.

Etymology

Below we are submitting the statistical data, reflecting the numerical changes the village population underwent:

Dates	Armenian Houses	Armenians (Male)	Armenians (Female)	Total (Armenians)	Notes	Source
1803	73					Archive Documents compiled by the Caucasian Archaeographical Commission, vol. 2, Tiflis, 1868, p. 81. The original in Russian.
1818	108	483	406	889		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 2569, pp. 42-45. The original in Armenian.
1862	162					National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3841, pp. 226-228. The original in Armenian.
1874				1605		Caucasian Calendar for 1886, Tiflis, 1885, p.118. The original in Russian.
1883	500					National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3875, p. 23. The original in Armenian.
1886	500				According to the "Ardzagank" weekly, apart from the 500 Armenian houses, Velistsikhe also had 350 Georgian ones. We think, however, that these data are exaggerated.	“Ardzagank”, 1895, N 23, p. 3. The original in Armenian
1887		1027	925	1952		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3880, p. 10. The original in Armenian.
1897		1051	1061	2112		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3899, pp. 138-139; ibid, fund 56, list 6, file 321, pp. 71-72. The original in Armenian.
1899		1090	1083	2173		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3905, p. 243. The original in Armenian.
1901		1175	1120	2295		National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, lists 1-2, file 205, pp. 131-132. The original in Armenian.
1902		1183	1128	2311		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3907, pp. 14-15. The original in Armenian.
1908	408	1259	1184	2443		National Archives of Armenia, fund 35, list 1, file 559, p. 22. The original in Armenian.