Noratus Cemetery

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The Noratus cemetery

The cemetery of Noratus ( Armenian Նորատուսի գերեզմանատուն , Noratusi geresmanatun ), Western Armenian Noraduz is a medieval burial ground near the village Noratus in ostarmenischen province of Gegharkunik . With around 900 khachkars , it has housed the world's largest khachkar field since the Culfa cemetery in Nakhichevan (an autonomous republic in Azerbaijan ) was destroyed.

Position and extent

The seven-hectare cemetery of Noratus is located on the southeastern edge of the village about four kilometers west of Lake Sevan , the largest freshwater lake in Armenia, and about five kilometers northeast of the provincial capital Gawar . The Armenian capital Yerevan is 90 kilometers south.

history

Representations of humans and animals on a gravestone
Representation of a wedding
Chatschkare in Noratus

The cemetery may have been in use since pre-Christian times. Objects from the Bronze and Iron Ages were found in the graves of the Shor Gyol area. The oldest gravestones in the cemetery date from the 1st to 2nd centuries. They are simple rectangular flat stones that lie on the ground. The symbols of the moving sun or the Jewish Star of David can be seen on the oldest graves. Others look like small pyramids made of stone and are reminiscent of Egyptian motifs. On some of the oldest gravestones, pre-Christian symbols can also be seen.

Gravestones from the early Middle Ages (5th - 7th centuries) stand upright and can be recognized by their tapering shape and their inscriptions. Other tombstones from this period are similar in shape to Armenian baby cradles with rounded or tapered ends. These stones often have a richer decor and commemorate the deceased with more detailed inscriptions in which the life path, hobbies and occupation are mentioned. The pictorial representations also serve to illustrate life: farmers are shown with plows, musicians with musical instruments and gentlemen or noblemen hunting. Weddings are depicted on other stones. Smaller stones were primarily intended for children.

The development of the khachkars (artistically hewn memorial stones with a relief cross in the middle, which is surrounded by geometric and plant motifs) began before the 7th century. It stagnated during the Arab rule in the 7th and 8th centuries. Its heyday began in the 9th century after Armenia became independent in 885. In Noratus they were erected between the 9th and 17th centuries. Most of them date from the 13th to 17th centuries. In the cemetery there are memorial stones from all three style periods, which are divided into the time from the 9th to the 10th century, the time from the 11th to the 12th century and the time from the 13th to the 16th century. Their front side usually faces east.

The most important cross stones were made by well-known masters, are examples of one of the three Khachkar style periods or belong to family burials, such as six memorial stones in the western part of the cemetery, which the master Kiram in 16./17. Century made. They stand in a row on a pedestal and, according to local tradition, are supposed to represent Lake Sevan and the two peaks of Mount Ararat. The Harutents family burial ground was built in the 14th century. There are 24 khachkars with finely worked out decorations in the form of reliefs. Most of the family burials are in the eastern part of the cemetery. There is also a collection of simple stones decorated with rudimentary crosses. They are dated to the 10th and 11th centuries and assigned to the oldest Khachkar style period. The most important stonemasons who worked in Noratus were Kiram Kasmogh (1551–1610), Arakel, Awanes, Mkrtitsch, Meliqset, Qiram, Nerses, Chatschatur the Masons and Chabib. Another is Charib, who created the S. Kristapor Khachkar, which can now be seen in the State Historical Museum in Yerevan. Catholicos Wasgen I donated another from 1244 to the British Museum in 1977. The front of the rectangular stone is richly decorated with geometric patterns, three crosses and grapes. An inscription on the left, in six lines, asks God's grace for a man named Aputayli.

Most of the hachkars in Noratus are overgrown with mosses and lichens.

The church of St. Astwazazazin had Sahak, king of Gegharkuniks, built at the end of the 9th century. It is a vaulted hall church.

The Church of St. Grigor Lusavorich was built in the 9th to 10th centuries. In the course of the 10th to 11th centuries, the architect Chatschatu had it converted into a vaulted hall church.

Chapel in the Noratus cemetery

The oldest chapel was built in 1714. Several inscriptions can be seen on its wall. It is reminiscent of the chapel's mason, a certain Alexan, whose simple grave is in the immediate vicinity of the chapel. In the lower part of the northwest wall is I, Alexan, the grandson of Sarkis, son of Mirzat, built this holy church in 1717. I, an unworthy one from Atis from Gir . On the other hand, on the upper south-west wall are the words: I, Alexan, built this church in a difficult and sad time.

On the west wall of the second chapel there are some elaborately worked out khachkars. Some of them have been destroyed or stolen. The words 1211 are written on the pedestal of a kachkar that is missing today. During the reign of our pious princes Sakareh and Ivaneh, I, Mchitar Pechuranz, son of David, with God's help and on the orders of the great Ivaneh, became the leader of the famous village of Noratus. I built this cross of my own free will to save our sleeping (deceased) people. Let those who worship here remember the land that was liberated from the Tajiks and given to me and my sons . In the upper area of ​​the north wall of the chapel is written: I, son of Mchitar, the leader of the famous village of Noratus, wanted this chapel and divine symbol to commemorate my soul, Susa's soul and the soul of my father Mchitar and all my sleeping people build. Let those who pray [in this chapel] remember us in their prayers.

A new modern cemetery was built next to the old cemetery, separated from the historical part by a long fence. In the tradition of the old cemetery, the tombstones erected there are also made from rose-colored tuff or basalt as kachkars.

The Noratus cemetery was the second largest Khachkaren field until 2005. The much larger field of Culfa in Nakhichevan with its around 2,500 cross stones was systematically destroyed in the years 1998-2005.

Legends and Myths

Chapel in the Noratus cemetery

Some of the cross stones in Noratus are said to have healing or protective properties to this day. Another popular legend has to do with the military leader Timur or Tamerlan, who wanted to attack the village in the 14th century. The villagers then put helmets on the Khachkars and lean swords against their side. When Timur saw the supposed army on the horizon, he withdrew impressed by its strength.

Next to the old chapel on the north side there are two tombstones. One is covered with broken glass. The broken glass is part of a ritual with which people in the area symbolically break through their fears. To do this, they pour water into the recess of one tombstone and break the glass on the other. The tombstone commemorates the village pastor Ter Awetisi Howakimianz (1780–1870). When he was ninety years old, he asked to be buried alive. His last words were: “I am not afraid of death. I don't want you to be afraid either. Do not be afraid of anything but God. Everyone who is afraid should come to me. Pour water on the tombstone, drink it, wash your face, chest, arms and legs. Then break the vessel in which the water was and the fear will leave you. "

Tombstones (selection)

Geghama tombstone

The Geghama tombstone is a large tombstone, the shape of which is reminiscent of an Armenian baby cradle. It is richly decorated with stone carvings in the form of reliefs . The stone is reminiscent of a man named Khachatur who, according to the inscription, brought water to the village in the 17th century. On the south side of the large stone, the outlines of water pipes with connections can be seen. Below there are four traditional Khachkar reliefs, each with a central cross, which is flanked by two smaller crosses that represent the traditional tree of life. The north side is more image-heavy. It shows a representative of the king sitting on a horse whose bridle is held by a servant. Above the servant there is a relief that is only minimally lifted from the stone. It shows an angel in flight, facing the rider. Utensils from the Armenian kitchen can be seen to the left of the group of figures: a wine glass and a round tonir (a sunken jug that is used to bake lavash and grilled food) and khorovats skewers ( Armenian խորոված ) for grilling. Above that, a relief can be seen that is only minimally lifted from the stone. It shows one of the oldest symbols of Armenia with a spiral pattern within a circle and is supposed to represent a rotating sun, the sign of eternity. On the far left is a seated musician playing a string instrument ( Saz ). The stone is complemented by a two-line inscription on the north side. It reads: May this Holy Cross intercede for Khachatura. 1655

Gravestone for a farmer

This tombstone stands about 30 meters south of the Geghama tombstone and is similar in shape, but is considerably smaller. On the south side is the portrait of a nameless farmer with his plow pulled by two oxen.

Web links

Commons : Noratus Cemetery  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g ArmeniaNow.com - Independent Journalism From Today's Armenia. Retrieved November 29, 2017 .
  2. ^ Helix Consulting LLC: Noratus 2: Cemetery History. The development of the Khachkar - Noratus - Armenian Heritage. Retrieved November 29, 2017 .
  3. ^ Helix Consulting LLC: Noratus 2: Cemetery History. The development of the Khachkar - Noratus - Armenian Heritage. Retrieved November 29, 2017 .
  4. ^ Förderkreis Ohlsdorfer Friedhof eV: Cross stones in Armenia | FOF-Ohlsdorf. Retrieved November 29, 2017 .
  5. ^ Baghdasaryan Brothers: Monuments of the village Noratus. Retrieved November 29, 2017 .
  6. ^ A b Helix Consulting LLC: Noratus 2: Cemetery History. The development of the Khachkar - Noratus - Armenian Heritage. Retrieved November 29, 2017 .
  7. ^ Helix Consulting LLC: Noratus 4: Map of Cemetery. Noratus Cemetery West End - Noratus - Armenian Heritage. Retrieved November 29, 2017 .
  8. ^ Helix Consulting LLC: Noratus 5: Noratus Central & East cemetery: First Chapel, Second Chapel - Noratus - Armenian Heritage. Retrieved November 29, 2017 .
  9. ^ Helix Consulting LLC: Noratus 6: Map of Cemetery. Noratus Eastern Cemetery. Noratus Masters - Noratus - Armenian Heritage. Retrieved November 29, 2017 .
  10. ↑ gravestone. Retrieved November 29, 2017 .
  11. ^ A b Baghdasaryan Brothers: Monuments of the village Noratus. Retrieved November 29, 2017 .
  12. ^ Helix Consulting LLC: Noratus 5: Noratus Central & East cemetery: First Chapel, Second Chapel - Noratus - Armenian Heritage. Retrieved November 29, 2017 .
  13. ^ Helix Consulting LLC: Noratus 5: Noratus Central & East cemetery: First Chapel, Second Chapel - Noratus - Armenian Heritage. Retrieved November 29, 2017 .
  14. ^ Helix Consulting LLC: Noratus 5: Noratus Central & East cemetery: First Chapel, Second Chapel - Noratus - Armenian Heritage. Retrieved November 29, 2017 .
  15. ^ Helix Consulting LLC: Noratus 3: Cemetery Walking Tour. Cradle Stones - Noratus - Armenian Heritage. Retrieved November 29, 2017 .
  16. ^ Helix Consulting LLC: Noratus 3: Cemetery Walking Tour. Cradle Stones - Noratus - Armenian Heritage. Retrieved November 29, 2017 .

Coordinates: 40 ° 22 ′ 26.7 "  N , 45 ° 10 ′ 55.2"  E