The Struggle for Memory: The Khachkar Field of Julfa and Other Armenian Sacred Spaces in Azerbaijan

During the last century, the Armenian Church and nation have lost most of their sacred spaces. One of the most peculiar cases is the history and afterlife of the khachkars (crossstones) of Julfa. The cemetery of Julfa was known for its endless unique khachkars and other monuments, constituting an ex...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Seppälä, Serafim 1970- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: [publisher not identified] 2021
In: Review of ecumenical studies, Sibiu
Year: 2021, Volume: 13, Issue: 2, Pages: 185-213
IxTheo Classification:CG Christianity and Politics
KBM Asia
KCA Monasticism; religious orders
KDF Orthodox Church
ZD Psychology
Further subjects:B Armenia
B Azerbaijan
B Julfa
B Memory
B Remembrance
B cultural genocide
B khachkar
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Description
Summary:During the last century, the Armenian Church and nation have lost most of their sacred spaces. One of the most peculiar cases is the history and afterlife of the khachkars (crossstones) of Julfa. The cemetery of Julfa was known for its endless unique khachkars and other monuments, constituting an exceptional sacred space in terms of spirituality and art history. The area was systematically and entirely destroyed by Azerbaijan in 2005. In the 2010s, Armenians reacted to the destruction by reviving the memory of Julfan khachkars by erecting their replicas to various locations in Armenia and other countries. As khachkars are supposed to be unique and unrepeatable, this struggle for memory requires an interpretative analysis. The problematics became urgent after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war when hundreds of Armenian monasteries, churches and sacred monuments were left under the control of Azerbaijan. There is no reason to assume that their fate in the long run will be any better than the hundreds of already demolished Armenian churches and monasteries in Azerbaijan.
ISSN:2359-8107
Contains:Enthalten in: Review of ecumenical studies, Sibiu
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.2478/ress-2021-0021