Patara, Otska monastery, khachkar № 2
Monument
Monument type
Khachkar initial, sequential and current
The khachkar, serving as a tombstone, was carved and erected in the 11th–12th centuries.
Since September 2023, the village of Patara has been under occupation by Azerbaijan. There is no information on the current state of the monument.
Original ownership and affiliation
Principality of Khachen The name of conservation unit
Khachkar A topographic report
Region (province), community
Greater Armenia, Province of Artsakh, District of Harchlank (later Khachen).
From 1991 to 2023 – Republic of Artsakh, Askeran District, Patara
Address
Republic of Artsakh, Askeran District, Patara Topography
Situated 21 km west of Askeran. Distance and location from community
Located 4 km northwest of Patara, southwest of Otska Monastery. Site elevation above sea level
1415 meters above sea level. Hydrography
Located between the midsections of the Varar Jur and Lenji Jur streams, near the sources of the Pitsi tributary of the Patara River. Description
The khachkar is placed in the area of a medieval cemetery to the north of Otska Monastery. Most likely, it was carved in the 11th–12th centuries as a tombstone. A preserved protrusion at the lower part of the khachkar indicates that it once stood on a pedestal. Later, the khachkar toppled over and, over time, became completely covered by a layer of soil.
In August 2020, during field studies conducted by the State Service for the Protection of Historical Environment of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of the Republic of Artsakh, it was discovered, cleaned, and measured.
In the center of the rectangular stela is a large cross framed by a groove-shaped border with a cross-shaped recess. The four arms of the cross end in pairs of circular protrusions. In the lower central part of the vertical arms is visible the branch of the cross’s root, and below it—outside the frame—is carved a full-height haloed figure. On both sides of the figure is the inscription:
«Ես՝ Գրգոր, կանգնեցի զխաչս ի բարեխաւսութիւն հաւր իմու Հասանայ՝ Մխուդիհ որդու․․»
(I, Grgor, erected this cross for the intercession of my father Hasan, son of Mkhudi…)¹
Historical record
Cultural characteristics, period, century (centuries)
Armenian Apostolic Church, 11th–12th centuries Documents for dating: according to a reliable document
By stylistic and artistic features Documents for dating: Justification of the date based on epigraphy.
Chronological table of research on the monument (period, author, works)
The khachkar was discovered in 2020 during field studies by the “State Service for the Protection of Historical Environment” State Non-Commercial Organization of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of the Republic of Artsakh. Descriptive-Characterization Report
Building material (type, colour)
Gray sandstone Type
Khachkar Dimensions: width
76 cm Dimensions: height
150 cm Dimensions: depth, thickness
16 cm State of conservation: Qualitative (good, average, bad, emergency, ruins)
Average Value
It is important for the study of the history, culture, and spiritual heritage of the village of Patara and Otska Monastery. ----------------------------
¹ Inscription deciphered by Arsen Harutyunyan. Photos
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Main bibliography
Barkhutareants M., 1895 – Barkhutareants Makar, Artsakh, Baku, 1895.
Karapetyan S., 2022 – Karapetyan Samvel, Toponyms of Artsakh, Yerevan, 2022.
Karapetyan S., 1984 – Karapetyan Samvel, “Historical-Architectural Monuments of the Ptretsik River Valley Based on Newly Discovered Inscriptions”, Bulletin of Social Sciences, Yerevan, 1984, No. 8, pp. 75–86.
Mkrtchyan Sh., 1985 – Mkrtchyan Sh., Historical-Architectural Monuments of Nagorno-Karabakh, Yerevan, 1985.
Sargsyan S., Arakelyan Y., 2006 – Sargsyan Slava, Arakelyan Yuri, Patara, Yerevan, 2006.
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G.B., A.L-Y.