Gandzasar in Artsakh


Gandzasar Monastery is located in the Martakert region of the Republic of Artsakh, near the village of Vank. Hasan Jalal Dolan, the prince of the Khachen province of Artsakh, began the construction of the St. John Church in 1216. The construction lasted 22 years.
In 2023, the monastery, along with the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, was annexed by Azerbaijan. Gandzasar Monastery is under the jurisdiction of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
 

Shoshkavank in Artsakh


Shoshkavank is located in the Martuni region of the Republic of Artsakh, on a mountain peak between the villages of Msmna and Khachmach. In 2023, the monastery was occupied by Azerbaijan along with the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Shoshkavank is under the jurisdiction of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Stepan Malkhasyants


The prominent Armenologist, academician Stepan Malkhasyants is one of those students of the seminary who, after improving their education in European universities, returned to their native educational institution to teach and pass on the accumulated knowledge to the next generations. Moreover, Malkhasyants also headed the seminary, and during that period implemented radical reforms. He was elected a member of the Spiritual Council of Holy Etchmiadzin. Throughout his life, even during the years of atheism and Stalinist repressions, he maintained a strong connection with the Mother See.

Armenian Women and "State Feminism" in Silent Cinema


Cinema entered Armenian reality during a difficult and hard period: genocide, the fall of the First Republic, imposed Soviet ideology with a complete rejection of the past. Who was the Armenian woman in Soviet-Armenian silent cinema? Anna Sargsyan spoke with Ruzanna Bagratunyan, author of the documentary collection “Talking Women of Silent Cinema.”

Ulubab Monastery in Artsakh


The village of Ulubab is in the Askeran region of the Republic of Artsakh. The village, which has a rich history, was the royal residence of Uli Pap, a descendant of the famous Hasan Jalalyan dynasty of Artsakh, and was named Ulupap or Ulubab after him. St. Gevorg of Ptkesberk is located here. In 2023, together with the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, the monastery was occupied by Azerbaijan. The monastery of the Holy Young Children is under the jurisdiction of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Holy Mother of God Church in Khnushinak


The Holy Mother of God Church in the village of Khnushinak, Martuni region, Republic of Artsakh is a basilica built on two spans of arches. It was built in 1860, with the funds of Hayrapet Bey Dolukhanyan from Shushi. In 2023, the church was occupied by Azerbaijan along with the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Holy Mother of God Church in Khnushinak is under the jurisdiction of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
 

Bri Eghtsi Monastery Complex in Artsakh


Bri Eghtsi Monastery is located in the Martuni region of the Republic of Artsakh.
It is the largest monastery in Artsakh by area. It was built in the 13th century. The monastery complex is especially famous for its walled khachkars.
In 2023, the monastery was occupied by Azerbaijan along with the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Bri Eghtsi Monastery in the village of Hatsi is under the jurisdiction of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
 

The Valley of Cross Stones in Artsakh


On the roadside of the village of Shahmasur in Artsakh is the area called the Valley of Cross-Stones, which is a medieval Armenian cemetery. It was built in the 11th-12th centuries. The number of officially certified cross-stone monuments in the territory of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic reaches two thousand. After the occupation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic by Azerbaijan in 2023, their condition is unknown.
 

The Koshik desert Monastery Complex in Artsakh


The Koshik Desert Monastery Complex is located in the Martuni region of the Republic of Artsakh. 
The monastery was one of the spiritual centers of the Khaghbakyan princes of Artsakh. It was built in the 11th-12th centuries. The name of the monastery, Koshik, probably comes from the word goshk. Goshk is a name for a group of hermits living in the mountains. Since 2023, the monastery, along with the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, has been occupied by Azerbaijan. It is under the jurisdiction of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
 

Armenian rock and non-formal education


In 2013, during the "The Levels of Sound" music courses at the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies, Arik Grigoryan founded the "Tambata" band. Today, the band is active in Armenia and abroad. The band members are young people aged 14-21. Anahit Margaryan spoke with rock musician and educator Arik Grigoryan about their activities, Armenian rock, informal music education, and the problems of alternative music in Armenia in "Artfocus".

St. Hakob Monastery of the Republic of Artsakh


Founded in the early Middle Ages, the St. Hakob Monastery is located in the Martakert region of the Republic of Artsakh. In subsequent centuries, the Armenian princes of Artsakh rebuilt it; by the 13th century, Hakob Monastery was already a large monastic complex. In 2020, a pan-Armenian fundraising campaign was launched for the restoration of the monastery. In 2023, the monastery, together with the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, was occupied by Azerbaijan. Since then, the St. Hakob Monastery has been under the jurisdiction of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Around one story: Aghasi Ayvazyan, "Kirakos"


Aghasi Ayvazyan's story "Kirakos", which tells about tragedy and humanity, conscience and hope, although it is one of the author's early works, summarizes the main ideas of his work. Who is Kirakos, what does he have to do with conscience, what are the messages of the story? Literary critics Hayk Hambardzumyan and Arkmenik Nikoghosyan discuss these questions in the program "Parallel Readings".