Armenian Cross

Armenian cross

An Armenian cross is a symbol that combines a cross with a floral postament or elements. The cross of Armenian Christianity is combined with the Christian cross, and this design was often used for high crosses (khachkar) – a free-standing cross made of stone and often richly decorated.

Pre-Christian connections

The Armenologist James R. Russell notes that the Armenian Cross incorporates influences from Armenia's Zoroastrian past.^[1] As Zoroastrian traditions were very much integrated into Armenian spiritual and material culture, they survived the zealotry of the Sasanian priest Kartir (fl. 3rd century) and his successors, and were ultimately incorporated into Armenian Christianity.^[1] Russell adds: "The Armenian Cross itself is supported on tongues of flame and has at its center not the body of Christ, but a sunburst".^[1]

Gallery

The Holy Savior khachkar in Haghpat (1273)
An Amenaprkich khachkhar in Etchmiadzin
Amenaprkich khatchkar with two others at the Sourp Nshan Church in downtown Beirut, Lebanon (2001)
A khackhar at the Armenian Catholicossate of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon
A khachkar in Sanahin
A modern, Amenaprkich-type, khachkar in Novi Sad, Serbia (1993)
A large 13th-century khachkar at Gandzasar Monastery in Artsakh
The famous double khachkars of the Memorial Bell-Tower of the Dadivank Monastery in Artsakh
Modern khachkar (1999), St. James Armenian Church in Watertown, MA, USA
USVA Headstone Emblem 42

References

^ a b c Russell, J. R. (1986). "ARMENIA AND IRAN iii. Armenian Religion". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica, Volume II/4: Architecture IV–Armenia and Iran IV. London and New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul. pp. 438–444. ISBN 978-0-71009-104-8.

Bibliography

^ Thierry, Jean-Michel (1989). Armenian Art. New York: Harry N. Abrams. ISBN 0-8109-0625-2.

External links

Khatchkar collection at Armenica.org
Old Jugha page on Armeniapedia
Destruction of Jugha khachkars by Azeri soldiers captured in photos and movie clips.
Khachkar page on Armeniapedia (many photos)
Photos at Armenia Photos.info Archived 2011-06-25 at the Wayback Machine
Photos of 15th/16th CE khatchkars near Bitlis, Turkey
Khachkar.am :: Everything about khachkars
Triumph of Tolerance or Vandalism?
Photos and history of Khachkars
Djulfa Virtual Memorial and Museum
Photos of Exceptional Samples of Armenian Cross-Stones (Khachkars)

[Iranica-1] Russell, J. R. (1986). "ARMENIA AND IRAN iii. Armenian Religion". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica, Volume II/4: Architecture IV–Armenia and Iran IV. London and New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul. pp. 438–444. ISBN 978-0-71009-104-8.