Carved wooden doors of Gandzasar Monastery

The photograph shows the doors of the Armenian monastery of Gandzasar in the Martakert district of Artsakh. The monastery, for centuries the spiritual centre of Artsakh, is now under Azerbaijani occupation. The monastery dates from the 13th century, while the doors are modern (21st century), made by master Robert Askaryan as a copy or stylisation. The original wooden door of the gavit (narthex) was shaped like a khachkar.

The doors are decorated with intricate wood carving: ornamental patterns, khachkar-style crosses and biblical figures. Winged angels are at the top, groups of saints below, and an Armenian inscription runs along the central vertical strip.

With its many inscriptions, the monastery is an outstanding architectural monument. It was badly damaged during the 1991–1994 war, including by missile strikes, after which restoration work began.