|
UNDER
CONSTRUCTION
|
The metal archway is marking
the right turn for Khndzoresk.
At the far end of Khndzoresk village, turn right (straight goes
to Nerkin Khndzoresk) and wind down past a cemetery. A
deteriorating dirt track descends into the the gorge and the
interesting remains of
Old
Khndzoresk, a
|
|
Nerkin Khndzoresk
is
the neighboring.
|
UNDER
CONSTRUCTION
|
|
medieval and early modern
village largely hewn into the soft rock. Given a local break-in artist who visits isolated cars, it is
advisable to leave your car at the top of the gorge and walk down. You pass a number of artificial caves now used as stables, and
other building remains. At the
bottom of the gorge, turn downstream to reach a S. Hripsime church of 1663, sadly defiled by graffiti and cow droppings. On
a spur beyond on the right side of the gorge is a 17th c.
Anapat (hermitage), with the tomb of Mkhitar Sparapet, who was Davit
Bek’s chief aide and successor in his war to drive out the infidel
Muslims. Mkhitar was murdered in 1730 by the nervous Armenian villagers of
Khndzoresk, who had vainly beseeched him to hole up in his own
stronghold rather than their village. The Ottoman Pasha in
Tabriz, to whom they presented his head,
found this treachery distasteful, and decapitated the murderers. The site is green and memorable.
There is a 17th c. cave church of S. Tadevos somewhere
about, and a couple of 17th c. spring monuments.
|
|
|
