“Today, Turkey states that the Armenian monuments of the times of Hayk the Great are the historical monuments of Georgians. In total, there are 2000 of such constructions.
We are facing the problem of several dozens of Chalcedonian churches built by Armenians being presented as Georgian only because they have Georgian inscriptions,” a member of the Public Council Ashot Manucharyan said.
Armenian specialists noted that the churches of Oshkvank and Ishkhan are obvious examples of Armenian architecture. They contain all the elements of Armenian architectonics, moreover, they have Armenian names.
“The architecture of the churches in Tayk exactly repeats the ones of the Echmiadzin Monastery and the Zvartnots Temple in Armenia. Oshkvank and Ishkhan churches located in the province of Erzurum are quite large and strong complexes,” a member of the Public Council Vahan Ter-Ghazaryan added.
According to Ashot Manucharyan, the Turkish government tries to ascribe Oshkvank and the nearby Ishkhan churches to the Georgian cultural heritage.
“Once again, Turkey demonstrated its hazardous policy, trying to damage the friendly relations of neighboring countries – Armenia and Georgia. This proves that Turkey has not changed its anti-Armenian policy. Unfortunately, the Georgians are equally aggressive and remain demanding on this issue”.
According to the chairman of the subcommittee Zhasmin Asryan, those churches are either apostolic or Armenian-Chalcedonian. As a result of the Byzantine pressure, they became Chalcedonian, but historically, they are Armenian cathedrals, which is quite important.
“In the Chalcedonian churches, Armenian ritual ceremonies were held, not Georgian or Greek. The owners of this heritage are Armenians,” Zhasmin Asryan thinks. She says that it is difficult to do anything, and relying on the Ministry of Culture of Armenia is pointless. In her view, they must focus on the conventions of international organizations, namely, the UNESCO Convention.
Sourse: golosarmenii.am
Lenin: Soviet nationalities policy, Azerbaijan SSR founded 1920, Stalin: Constitution and census fix the ethnonym…
An unprecedented find on Arin Berd hill On 23 July 2026, the French Embassy in…
For more than fifteen centuries, one line from Movses Khorenatsi's History of the Armenians has…
Armenian historical tradition, echoed by a number of modern researchers, identifies Rusudan as an Armenian…
Tucked away in the greenery of the 2nd block of Yerevan's Nor Nork district, in…
Based on the Armenian-language essay "Երևանը տոն է. Արատտայից Երևան" ("Yerevan Is a Festival: From…
View Comments
Oshki is a Georgian monastery from the second half of the 10th century located in the Georgian historic province of Tao, which was an integral part of Georgian kingdom. The construction of the monastery was sponsored by the Georgian Kings Bagrat eristavt-eristavi (prince of princes) and David III Bagrationi Kuropalates. There are 12 Georgian inscriptions and none Armenian. Armenian origin of Oshki monastery is not confirmed by any historical source.
As for Ishkhani, the earliest mention of the monastery is found in the Life of Grigol Khandzteli (famous Georgian monk), a Georgian manuscript dating from the year 951. In this manuscript it is stated that Saba, the nephew and follower of the priest Gregory of Khandzta, founded a monastery on the site of an earlier church. Just the earlier church was built by the Armenian catholicos Nerses III, which was destroyed during the Arab invasion and not the current cathedral, built by the Georgian monks. The final face of the cathedral took place in 1032, during the reign of Bagrat IV, king of Georgia, architect was Ivane Morchaisdze. Also there are five old Georgian inscriptions within the church.
Everything is said in the article. In particular, the policy of Turkey in this question is stated. Your comment without link does not make sense