Darknight

photo credit : Oshin D. Zakarian

In a starry summer night of northern Iran near the border of Armenia, the lonely monastery of Dzordzor is photographed under the Milky Way. The monument which is a part of a group of Armenian monasteries in northwestern Iran, preserved as a World Heritage Site.

Newly discovered picture shows Kaiser’s officers at scene of Turkish atrocity, from The Independent

German and Turkish officers pose with the skulls of Armenian victims

The photograph – never published before – was apparently taken in the summer of 1915. Human skulls are scattered over the earth. They are all that remain of a handful of Armenians slaughtered by the Ottoman Turks during the First World War. Behind the skulls, posing for the camera, are three Turkish officers in tall, soft hats and a man, on the far right, who is dressed in Kurdish clothes. But the two other men are Germans, both dressed in the military flat caps, belts and tunics of the Kaiserreichsheer, the Imperial German Army. It is an atrocity snapshot – just like those pictures the Nazis took of their soldiers posing before Jewish Holocaust victims a quarter of a century later.

Here is a small selection of beautiful Armenian wallpapers I found. Don’t forget to push View full article button!

Armenia, Ann

Armenian train

Armenia country side

Geghard Monastery, 4th century – Armenia

Gyumri winter, Armenia

Armenia, Ann

Autumn in Gyumri, Armenia

Armenia, Ann

View of Mount Aragats, Armenia

Armenia, Ann

Armenian mountains

A selection of beautify displayed Armenians churches.

River Dzoraget of Stepanavan

Stepanavan is a beautiful town in the Lori Province of Armenia. The area of present Stepanavan was inhabited since the ancient times and was the focus of an early development of mining and metallurgy. Prehistoric sites in Stepanavan date back to the Stone Age. Stepanavan with surrounding areas was part of the Tashir Province and was included in the Artashesian Dynasty, and later part of Arshakunyats Kingdoms. In 385, after division of Greater Hayk Tashir Province, Stepanavan was left in the area of Armenian principality. Located on the northern trade route, it was a large craft and commercial center in medieval Armenia. It had a population of more than 10,000 in the 11th century. Since the 9th century, Shirak’s Bagratuni Dinasty have governed the area and joined several neighboring provinces together to create Tashir -Dzoraget Province of Lori Kingdom under Kyurikians. The greatest period of the Kyurikian Kingdom was from 980 to 1048 AD, during the reign of Davit Anhoghin and after him, Kyurike, when the area was expanded. The kingdom stretched along the Pambak and Debed rivers with the center being Lori Berd (a medieval royal palace complex). This medieval town-fortress was founded by one of the powerful kings of Armenia, David I Anhoghin, between 1005–1020.

Later on, Stepanavan became the mansion of the Zakarian Dynasty. It also served as a summer resting place for Armenian kings. As for Lori Fortress, it was the Armenian King, Ashot Yerkat’s (the Iron’s) favorite summer home. History shows that by the end of the 13th century, a branch of the Prince of Khachen, Hassan-Jalal Dola’s Dynasty and 110 families inhabited the town plateau. The residential area was named Jalaloghli, after the Jalal Dynasty, when it was officially founded in 1604 by Armenian refugees running from Persian ruler, Shah Abass, during his Armenian campaign.

The Armenian poet, Hovhannes Tumanyan, also received his primary education here, writing about the area in his later life. His school (school number 3) is currently named after him and exhibits a large mosaic wall depicting his fairy tales in his remembrance. Seven hundred years later, on behalf of the Bolshevik Armenian, Stepan Shahumyan, the town was renamed Stepanavan and became the administrative center of the region.

Stepanavan and its surrounding villages have a lot to offer to visitors. There are many fortresses, churches, bridges and sacred places to admire and enjoy. One of the places to visit in the town is Stepan Shahumyan’s House-Museum, St. Nshan Basilica (XI c.), ’Lori Berd’ Fortress Town, ruins of Shushanik’s Fortress (X-XI c.), Tormakadur Church (VI-VII c.), Stepanavan Dendropark (Botanical Garden) beautiful forests, steep mountains, and much more. Situated approximately 1375 meters above sea level, the town of Stepanavan is pleasantly warm in the summer and bright and cold during the winter months.

Bellow more images of Stepanavan district and surrounding areas:

Lori Berd fortress of Stepanavan Armenia, 10 th c.

Lazar’s cave Koghes Alaverdi, Armenia

Koghes gorge with medieval Armenian cross-stones Alaverdi Armenia.

Koghes gorge rocks Alaverdi Armenia

Koghes gorge scenery Alaverdi Armenia

Yaghdan tutu’jur mineral water Alaverdi Armenia

Akhtala fortress 10th. c. Alaverdi-Armenia

St Mariam church (10th c.), Akhtala Alaverdi Armenia

St Horomayri Church standing against the roks, covered with vagitation, near Odzun Alaverdi Armenia

Odzun basilic (6th century), Alaverdi Armenia

Haghpat monastery (10th century) Alaverdi Armenia

Haghpat monastery interior (10th century) Alaverdi Armenia

Haghpat monastery interior (10th century) Alaverdi Armenia

Sanahin Monastery 10th century, Armenia

Kobayr monastery (11th century), Alaverdi Armenia

Bardzrakash St. Grigor Monastery (10th. c.), Dsegh, Armenia

Bardzrakash St. Grigor Monastery (10th. c.), Dsegh, Armenia

Medieval khachkars near Bardzrakash monastery, Dsegh Alaverdi, Armenia

Cross stone from Mamkionyan nobel dinasty, Alaverdi Armenia

Vardablur berd (medieval fortress)Stepanavan Armenia

Ruins of Vardablur berd (medieval fortress)Stepanavan Armenia2

View from Vardablur fortress, Stepanavan, Armenia

St Jgrashen church (XI century) Stepanavan, Armenia

Kurtan – St. Astvatsatsin Basilica (V c.)

Kurtan valley, Alaverdi, Armenia

Kurtan gorge from Dsegh Alaverdi, Armenia

Kuybishev lake Stepanavan, Armenia

Kuybishev lake Stepanavan, Armenia

Lori Berd Fortress, Stepanavan Armenia

Lori Berd Fortress, Stepanavan Armenia

Lori Berd medieval bridge Stepanavan Armenia

Lori Berd Fortress wall, Stepanavan Armenia

Lori Berd Fortress wall, Stepanavan Armenia2

Ruines of Tormak church (4th century) Stepanavan, Armenia

Near Dendropark Stepanavan Armenia

Pushkin pass, Atepanavan, Armenia

Lejan’s red church (19th c.), Stepanavan Armenia

Dorbandavank, St. Astvatsatsin church (VI c.) Stepanavan Armenia

Askanazist waterbed Stepanavan, Armenia

Armanis chrchran waterfall, Stepanavan, Armenia

Khorakert monastery (XIII c.)

Stepanavan district

A Page from People of All Nations, their life story today and the story of their past captured in numerous photographs edited by J.A. Hammerton 1920

text reads:

ARMENIAN CARPET MANUFACTORY IN EASTERN KURDISTAN

Neither the Turk nor the Kurd is remarkable for artistic talent, but the Armenians, with a culture going back to the age of Babylon, have, like the Asiatic Greeks, coloured the minds of their conquerors with the old native arts. Here we see two fine Kurdistan carpets being made by little Armenian maids, under supervision of older women, while a finished carpet hangs ready for sale between the ....

The dress of the Armenians reflects a rich cultural tradition. Wool and fur were utilized by the Armenians and later cotton that was grown in the fertile valleys. Silk imported from China was used by royalty, during the Ararat (Urartu) period. Later the Armenians cultivated silkworms and produced their own silk.

The collection of Armenian women’s costumes begins during the Urartu/Ararat time period, wherein dresses were designed with creamy white silk, embroidered with gold thread. The costume was a replica of a medallion unearthed by archaeologists at Toprak Kale near Lake Van, which some 3,000 years ago was the site of the capital of the Kingdom of Van.

Some thousand years ago, the old Armenian capital Ani rivaled the likes of Constantinople, Baghdad and Cairo in size and influence. Historically Ani has been an Armenian settlement from the times immemorial. It is first mentioned in the 5th century Armenian chronicles as a strong castle built on a hilltop. Ani was made capital of the Bagratuni Kingdom in 961 AD. and by the 11th Century had grown to over one-hundred-thousand people. Renowned for its splendor and magnificence, Ani was known as “the city of 40 gates” and “the city of 1001 churches.” It would later become the battleground for various contending Empires, leading to its destruction and abandonment. Today Ani largely remains a forgotten ancient Armenian ghost town in modern day Turkey.  Travelers, writers, and other adventurers through ages have described Ani with high regard. I think there is no better way to describe Ani but through the words of the people who have visited the site. Therefore bellow a selection of these heartwarming accounts.

Konstantin Paustovski a Russian Soviet writer, a Nobel prize nominee described Ani in 1923 with the following quotes:

“What is Ani like? There are things beyond description, no matter how hard you try.”

“On the other bank we saw basilicas, tiled Armenian domes and a complete absence of human beings. It was the ruins of the ancient Armenian capital, Ani – one of the real wonders of the world.”

The British member of parliament and businessman H. F. B. Lynch in 1893 also describes the city of Ani in his book “Armenia, travels and studies.”:

“But a lesson of wider import, transcending the sphere of the history of architecture, may be derived from a visit to the capital of the Bagratid dynasty, and from the study of the living evidence of a vanished civilization which is lavished upon the traveller within her walls. Her monuments throw a strong light upon the character of the Armenian people, and they bring into pronouncement important features of Armenian history. They leave no doubt that this people may be included in the small number of races who have shown themselves susceptible of the highest culture.”

“The roofs as well as the walls are composed of stone, and, as usual in Armenian churches, no wood or metal has been used. Even at the present day the Armenian masons are possessed of exceptional skill; and their natural gifts have been here directed by the conceptions of genius.

The merits of the style are the diversity of its resources, the elegance of the ornament in low relief, the perfect execution of every part.”

“We admire these buildings in much the same state and condition as when they delighted the eyes of Armenian monarchs nine centuries ago. Such a site would in Western lands be at least occupied by a small town or village; the solitude of Ani is not shared by creations of a culture that has disappeared.”

Church of the Redeemer, in Ani

An Italian historian, traveler and diplomat Luigi Villari in 1905 recounts Ani as follows:

“We walked over one or two brown ridges, and suddenly the walls of Ani came in sight. There they stood, massive piles of masonry extending for nearly a mile, with huge round towers at short intervals, mute testimony to the deeds of the Armenians in the brave days of old.”

“Nowhere, except at Constantinople, have I seen more splendid defences of a mediaeval city. For about two-thirds of a mile they are still standing, and broken fragments of them extend along the whole length of the circumference of the city and descend into the ravine of the Arpa Chai.”

“The marvelous city shows evidence of a building power and architectural skill on the part of the ancient Armenians of the highest order, and enables us to realize that this people, in spite of the lamentable history of the last six centuries, is a nation with a noble past.

Today this spot, where proud kings once dwelt in splendid courts and held sway over prosperous lands and civilized subjects, where public life was active and vigorous, is a crying wilderness. None but the old priest and the peasant family dwell within the enclosure, and even the neighbouring country, formerly so fertile and well-peopled, is now almost uninhabited, and has become to a great extent barren desert. Is the state of Ani symbolical of that of the Armenian nation, and are they destined at last to disappear or be absorbed into other races, other religions? I do not think so, for with all the sufferings and persecution they have undergone they still preserve a vigorous national life. Many of them have been massacred, but the survivors are not absorbed. Their industry is more active than ever, and education is making great progress. They have built up the oil trade of Baku, they monopolize the commerce of Tiflis, and at Rostoff-on-the-Don, Baku, Odessa, Moscow, Kishinieff, Constantinople, Bombay, Calcutta, and many another city far removed from their ancestral homes, they form industrious, intelligent, and prosperous commercial communities. A people with such a past and such a present need surely not despair of its future.”

Little did Villari know that only 10 years after these words Armenians would endure maybe the darkest of days in their entire history. The horrible events of the Armenian Genocide. Yet almost prophetic his words came true when Armenians overcame even these horrendous events and today there is still such a country (albeit smaller than its historic territory) that is called Armenia.

Sir E. A. Wallis Budge, London 1928. recounts the visit of of Nestorian Christian monks Sawma and Markos to Ani in the 1270s:

“And when they arrived at the city of Animto (Ani) and saw the monasteries and the churches therein, they marvelled at the great extent of the buildings and at their magnificence.”

Yet another highly memorable quote comes from an English artist, author, diplomat and traveller Sir Robert Ker Porter in 1817:

“In the western extremity of this great town, in which no living beings except ourselves seemed breathing, we saw the palace, once of the kings of Armenia; and it is a building worthy the fame of this old capital. Its length stretches nearly the whole breadth between the walls of the city on one side, and the ravine on the other. Indeed, it seems a town in itself; and so superbly decorated within and without, that no description can give an adequate idea of the variety and richness, of the highly wrought carvings on the stone, which are all over the building; or of the finely-executed mosaic patterns, which beautify the floors of its countless halls.”

“The farther I went, and the closer I examined the remains of this vast capital, the greater was my admiration of its firm and finished masonry. In short, the masterly workmanship of the capitals of pillars, the nice carvings of the intricate ornaments, and arabesque friezes, surpassed anything of the kind I had ever seen, whether abroad, or in the most celebrated cathedrals of England.”

Church of the redeemer from about 1040 AD.

William J. Hamilton in 1836 too described the outstanding building techniques of the Armenian craftsman, being able to build structures that would last for centuries. He describes:

“There was something impressive and almost awful in the sight of a Christian town, built in a style so peculiar to itself, and unknown to modern Europe, now nearly in the same state in which its destroyers had left it eight centuries ago.”

“There is hardly a building in Anni of any consequence which is not covered with Armenian inscriptions.”

Church of Ani, st. Gregory of Tigran Honents

Foreign travelers are not the only once to have recorded Ani in such regard. Armenians who have visited the site of the ancient abandoned Armenian capital often had a hard time holding back their emotions.  Basmadjian in 1903 describes the sites as follows:

“The traveler or the pilgrim, whether coming by horseback, by carriage, or even on foot, before arriving at this city in mourning, looks towards the site with a thousand thoughts. He is impatient; he strains to see it – even for just a moment – from afar, one doesn’t know if it is to feel an inner contentment or to satisfy the longings of many years. It is a powerful feeling, an unexplainable desire, that burns, that strains at the hearts of all Armenians and even those of foreign travellers.

And then your companions cry out “ANI!” It is as if a bomb had suddenly exploded, or an electrical current had crossed your body! You tremble; the regular flow of your breathing is altered; your heart pounds; your nerves soften; you are filled with emotions and your eyes begin to moisten with tears; you are no longer your own master; the tears that you initially held back you now allow to flow, to pour down your cheeks. You cry like a child, in front of these crumbling walls, these half destroyed buildings, these heaps of moss covered stones that awaken old and powerful memories in you.”

British army officer Major-General Charles Gordon in his letter describes an account of his visit to Ani in the year 1857:

“The third day of our tour we passed through Ani the ancient capital of Armenia. This city is completely deserted, and has splendid churches still standing in it. These churches are capitally built and preserved. Some coloured drawings on their walls are to be seen even now. I have obtained some views for you from this interesting place. The towers and walls are almost intact; but the most extraordinary thing about so large a place is the singular quietness.

I feel myself unable to describe this extraordinary place as it ought to be done.”

Ancient cave dwellings of Ani

Baron Max von Thielmann (1872) in his book ‘Journey in the Caucasus, Persia, and Turkey In Asia’ describes seeing Ani and its marvelous architecture that at “some parts are as fresh-looking as if they were only completed yesterday.” He further describes the sensation of being at the site as follows:

“On reaching a gentle ridge extending between two hills some 200 feet in height (near Kara-Kala in the Five Verst Map), a panorama disclosed itself to our gaze, which for wild and desolate grandeur is perhaps unparalleled. Before us lay extended a rocky plain about five miles in length, and at its further extremity was a mighty city, surrounded by walls with towers, churches and palaces – a noble pile, but devoid of animation.

The associations aroused by this scene were enhanced a thousand-fold by the tranquility and desolation which prevailed; for in days gone by the capital of a mighty empire had stood on this very spot in full glory and magnificence; and so intense was the impression occasioned by this solitude amongst ruins, that, even later on at Babylon and at Palmyra, I did not experience so acute a sensation.”

William of Rubruck in the account of his visit to Ani in 1255 states:

“On the feast of the Purifaction I was in a city called Ani. Its population is extremely strong: it contains a thousand Armenian churches…”

Bellow some more images of the abandoned ancient capital of Armenia:

Ani ruins – view toward Armenia

Church of St. Gregory built in 1001

Ruins with Church at Rear – Ani (Ancient Armenian Capital) – Near Kars – Turkey

Ani Church of St Gregory (1215)

Holy Apostles church of Ani

Church of St. Gregory built in 1001

Church of St. Gregory built in 1001

Ornamental stones of a ruined Armenian church in Ani

Sources:

http://www.virtualani.org/

http://armenianhouse.org/villari/caucasus/alexandropol-ani.html

Eastern Turkey is the home of one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world, still holding some traces of its Armenian past. During the 19th en 20th century much of Armenian geographical and cultural names have been replaced in a process of Turkification of the region. Some etymologist estimated at least 3, 600 Armenian place-names to have been replaced in the 20th century (Sevan Nisanyan, 2011) especially after the expulsion of the Armenian population from the Ottoman held territories.

Derived from the Armenian word “Khachkar” (meaning: Cross-stone), Kaçkar Mountains (Turkish: Kaçkar Dağları) today stand a testimony to Eastern Turkey’s Armenian past.[1][2] Historically part of Lesser Armenia, the Kaçkar range is often described as the lushest, most spectacular mountain area in Turkey, fronting the Black Sea to the north and the valley of the Çoruh River to the south. The highest peak Kaçkar Dağı is at an elevation of 3,937 metres (12,917 ft), and mountain plateaus are at about 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in elevation. The Kaçkars are glaciated mountains that are alpine in character, with steep rocky peaks and numerous mountain lakes. The area was declared a national park in 1994. Tourism activities in the park include hiking, camping, mountaineering, and, increasingly, heliskiing.

A sizable Muslim Armenian population still lives on those mountains. Historically known as the Hamshentsi, these are people of the royal Armenian house of Hamam. They speak a dialect of Armenian and are divided in Christian and Muslim groups. Unlike their Muslim brethren, the Christian Hamshentsi have been expelled from their home territories and today mostly reside in South Russia and Abkhazia. Like many Armenian settlements Hamshen contains the suffix -shen from Armenian word “shenel” meaning “to build”. Hamshen like Artashen, Bagratashen, Norashen and so on, simply means “Build by Hamam”. In Turkish it is called Hemşin and the people are known as Hemşinli.

Bellow some more pictures of the Cross-stone mountains:

Kackar Mountain map (French)

Sources:

[1] Marc Dubin; Enver Lucas (1989). Trekking in Turkey. Lonely Planet. p. 125. ISBN 0-86442-037-4.

[2] Robert H. Hewsen. Armenia: A Historical Atlas. — University of Chicago Press, 2001. — 341 p. — ISBN 0-226-33228-4, ISBN 978-0-226-33228-4. P.212. “River between the port of Atina (now Pazar) on the coast and the great inland peak called Kajkar (Arm. Khach’k'ar) Dagh ‘Cross-stone Mountain’”

In the spirit of Armenian Christmas on 6th of January, I’d like to share these beautiful photographs of Armenian Priests taken by Suren Manvelyan.

The post Photographs of Armenian Priests appeared first on PeopleOfAr.

Some breathtaking pictures of the Armenian Night Sky by Suren Manvelyan. You can find more of his art work at: https://www.behance.net/paronsuren

The post Breathtaking Pictures of Armenian Night Sky appeared first on PeopleOfAr.

Hi guys, I have a wonderful announcement to make. There is going to be an awesome international street festival in Bucharest, Romania organized by the Armenian Union in Romania and the Armenian Youth Organisation in Romania with an aim to promote the Armenian heritage. The festival will start 7 August and last 1 entire month. This year will […]

The post “Discover Armenia” International Photography Exhibition – 2015 appeared first on PeopleOfAr.