The Armenian cemetery at Varzahan

An old Armenian cemetery connected with the Varzahan monastery, founded in the 12th century. The cemetery contains animal-shaped tombstones typical of Armenian culture: stone figures of horses and rams. The monastery included the Church of Surb Hambardzum and a village church dedicated to the Holy Mother of God. The village of Varzahan and the monastery suffered heavily during the Russo-Turkish war of 1828 and were destroyed during the massacres of 1895. According to reports, the cemetery is now neglected, many tombstones are damaged or lost, and cases of looting and illegal digging have been recorded.

In the foreground of this old photograph are ram-shaped tombstones; behind them a half-ruined stone structure stands on a hill, with mountains in the distance. Below is an English caption: “Fig. 173. Armenian Cemetery at Varzahan.”