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Khachkar Carving Masterclass in Noratus

Khachkar Carving Masterclass in Noratus

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95 km from Yerevan center

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Gegharkunik

A khachkar, literally "cross-stone", is not merely a work of art but a prayer carved in stone. Each pattern on its surface is a symbol of eternity, infinity and profound faith carried by the Armenian people through the centuries. Khachkars were erected as gravestones, memorials of events, or offerings of gratitude, each becoming a message to future generations. Particularly striking is the Noratus cemetery, where hundreds of khachkars stand shoulder to shoulder like eternal guardians of the land and its memory.

The oldest known khachkar, dated back to 879, was erected in Garni in honor of Queen Katranide I, marking the beginning of a thousand-year tradition. There stands a real story of true love, which takes us back to history. The Armenian king Ashot the Great and Katranide had nine children, whom they raised in love and family warmth, living a long and happy life. Once upon a time the king returned from the war to the palace and found his wife dead. To the question where his wife was, in hell or heaven, the Catholicos said that he must receive the answer from God. The king erected a cross and forty days later roses started to bloom around it: she had found her rest in paradise.

The ornaments, where the cross intertwines with rosettes and floral motifs, seem to come alive in the sunlight, turning stone into a living chronicle. It is no coincidence that the art of khachkar carving has been inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list, for it embodies the spiritual richness and resilience of the Armenian nation.

👉 Reservations should be made in advance.