The Diocese of Artsakh () is one of the largest dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Nagorno-Karabakh. It is named after the historic province of Artsakh; the 10th province of the Kingdom of Armenia. The diocesan headquarters are located on Ghazanchetots street 72, in the town of Shushi. The seat of the bishop is the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral. On 21 January 2022, Vrtanes Abrahamyan was appointed Primate of the Diocese.Artsakh DioceseBishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan
History The diocese was established in 1989. Since its creation, archbishop Pargev Martirosyan (Պարգև արքեպիսկոպոս Մարտիրոսյան) has served as its primate.Armenian International Magazine, Volume 10, Glendale, California, 1999
All churches in Nagorno-Karabakh were closed in the 1930s by the Soviet government. The totalitarian regime was relatively relaxed by Mikhail Gorbachev. A mass movement for the unification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia started in February 1988. With Armenian national identity on the rise in the Soviet Union, the Diocese of Artsakh was established in 1989. The 13th century Gandzasar monastery was the first one to be reopened. It remains the historic center of the Diocese of Artsakh, while the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral is the administrative center of the diocese.
The construction of the Holy Mother of God Cathedral in Stepanakert was launched on July 19, 2006. The cost of the project is around US$2 million, and the architect of the church is Gagik Yeranosyan. However, the construction process was slow due to the lack of financial resources. Upon its consecration, it will become the seat of the Diocese of Artsakh.
After the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, renewing the conflict in 2016, and later in 2020, by the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, in 2022, and later in 2023 by the Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh, incidents led to various incidents of hatred and use of the force and ethnic cleansing against Armenians and damage, rewriting the history and destruction or conversion of Armenian cultural heritage by Armenian military forces. Churches of the Diocese of Artsakh were often occupied, damaged, or destroyed, or converted to "Caucasus Albanian" churches. After the war in 2020 there were around 400 holy sites in the area and some of them were desecrated or destroyed when Azerbaijan got the territory. European commission criticized Azerbaijan's policy of erasing and denying the Armenian cultural heritage and adopted the resolution 2022/2582(RSP). Conflict in 2023 lead to massive exodus of Armenians from the area.
Active churches
Here is the list of churches, monasteries, and chapels functioning under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Artsakh, along with their location and year of consecration:
Churches
Askeran region Holy Mother of God church, Askeran City, 2002 Holy Mother of God church, Aygestan, 1850 St. George church, Astghashen, 1898 Holy Mother of God church, Dashushen, 1843 St. John the Baptist church, Lusadzor, 19th century St. Stephen church, Khachen, 13th century Holy Mother of God church, Khnatsakh, 19th century Holy Mother of God church, Karmir Gyugh, 1841 Holy Mother of God church, Madatashen, 19-20th centuries Holy Mother of God church, Nakhijevanik, 19th century St. Stephen church, Badara/Patara, 19th century St. George church, Sarnakhbyur, 1875 "Phirumashen" church, Sarushen, 12-13th century Martakert region Vankasar Church, near Martakert, 7th century Saint John the Baptist Church, Martakert City, 1881 St. Anthony church, Zaglik, 2007 St. Sarkis church, Harutyunagomer, 2005 Saint George's Church, Mets Shen, 2011 Church in the settlement of "Mandur", Mehmana, 12th–15th centuries Holy Mother of God church, Mehmana, 1229 Holy Mother of God church, Nerkin Horatagh, 1904–1914 St. George church, Nerkin Oratakh, 2012 Holy Mother of God church, Vaghuhas, 2012 St. George church, Haterk Holy Mother of God church, Tonashen, 19th century Martuni region Church of St. Nerses the Great, Martuni, 2004 Holy Mother of God church, Ashan, 1896 Holy Mother of God church, Avdur, 1874 Holy Mother of God church, Tsovategh, 19th century "Targmanchants vank" church, Kaghartsi, 19th century Holy Mother of God church, Kolkhozashen, 19th century Holy Mother of God church, Haghorti, 1751 St. Gregory church, Chartar City, 19th century St. Vardan church, Chartar City, 2018 Holy Mother of God church, Nngi, 1853 Holy Mother of God church, Nngi, 1895 St. Gregory the Illuminator, Nngi St. John the Baptist church, Norshen, 19th century Holy All-Savior church, Spitakashen, 13th century Shahumyan region - most of churches is on the territory occupied by Azerbaijan St. Dadi church, 1178 St. Nshan Katoghike church, 1174 Domed small church of St. Gregory the Illuminator, 1211–1224 Holy Mother of God church, 17th century Shushi region St. Sarkis church, Yeghtsahogh, 2006 St. Pantaleon church, Mets Shen, 1658 Saint John the Baptist Church (Kanach Zham), Shusha, 1818, not operating, territory occupied by Azerbaijan Ghazanchetsots Holy Savior Cathedral, Shusha, 1888, not operating, territory occupied by Azerbaijan Stepanakert Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God, Stepanakert, 2019 Saint Jacob Church, Stepanakert, 2007 Kashatagh region - territory occupied by Azerbaijan Hadrut region - terriroty occupied by Azerbaijan Holy Resurrection Church, Hadrut, 1621, not operating, terriroty occupied by Azerbaijan Other Church of the Holy Ascension, Lachin, 1998 Church of the Holy Martyrs, Zabux, 2002 Saint George's Church, Aşağı Oratağ, 2012 Saint John the Baptist Church, Daşbaşı, 2013
Monasteries Amaras Monastery, Sos, 4th-19th centuries Tsitsernavank Monastery, Tsitsernavank, 5-6th centuries "Metsaranits" monastery, called also "Hakobavank" monastery complex, Qolatak/Kolatak, Martakert region, 7-13th centuries Gandzasar monastery complex, Vank, Martakert region, 10-13th centuries "Dadivank" monastery complex, Dadivank, Shahumyan region, 12th-13th centuries "Shoshkavank" monastery complex, Msmna, Martuni region, 16th century "Gyulistani anapat" monastery complex, called also Monastery of the Holy All-Savior church, Tonashen, Martakert region, 17th century
Inactive/ruined churches and monasteries
This is an incomplete list of inactive or ruined churches and monasteries in the territory regulated by the Diocese of Artsakh: Katarovank Monastery, Hadrut Region, 4th century Yeghishe Arakyal Monastery, Martakert Region, 5th century Dadivank Monastery, Shahumyan Region, 9-13th centuries Gtichavank Monastery, Togh, 1248 Monastery of Tsar, Tsar, 1301 Yerits Mankants Monastery, Martakert Region, 1691
List of Churches and Monasteries Below is list of churches, monasteries, and chapels under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Artsakh and their operating status from Askeran, Hadrut, Kashatagh, Martakert, Martuni, Shahumyan, Shushi regions and Stepanakert.
Askeran region +Churches and monasteries of the Diocese of Artsakh - Askeran region NameTypeImageYearLocation/geoStatusNotesHoly Mother of God churchChurch2002Askeran City, OperatingHoly Mother of God churchChurch1850AygestanOperatingSt. Vanes churchChurch18th centuryAygestanRuinedSt. George church Church1898AstghashenOperatingHoly Mother of God churchChurch1651Avetaranots / ChanakhchiOccupied"Cuckoo's nest" churchChurch12th-13th centuriesAvetaranots / ChanakhchiOccupied"Holy sister's convent" churchMonastery1616Avetaranots / Chanakhchi, Kusanats Anapat Armenian MonasteryOccupied"Ghevondants' desert" churchChurchAvetaranots / ChanakhchiOccupied"Sana eghtse" churchChurch17th centuryAvetaranots / ChanakhchiOccupiedChurch in the settlement of "Phaphader"Church12th-13th centuriesAvetaranots / ChanakhchiOccupiedHoly Mother of God churchChurch1862DahrazOccupiedHoly Mother of God churchChurch1843DashushenOperatingChurch in the settlement of "Bozun tap"Church11th-13th centuriesDashushenRuinedChurch in the settlement of "Mkhoz"Church15th-17th centuriesDashushenRuinedSt. John the Baptist churchChurch19th centuryLusadzorOperatingSt. John the Baptist churchChurch13th centuryKhantskRuinedSt. Stephen churchChurch1673KhantskRuined"Vardapetin khut" churchChurch11th-12th centuriesKhantskRuinedSt. Stephen churchChurch13th centuryKhachen, OccupiedChurch in the settlement of "Eghunts eghtsi"Church1204KhachenRuined"Machi shen" churchChurch1245KhachenRuinedChurch in the settlement of "Sheganots"Church11th-13th centuriesKhachenRuinedChurch in the settlement of "Khurda Gyune"Church11th-13th centuriesKhachenRuinedHoly Mother of God churchChurch19th centuryKhnatsakhOperatingHoly Mother of God churchChurch17th centuryKhnatsakhRuinedChurch in the sanctuary of "Parur"Church16th-17th centuryKhnatsakhRuined?ChurchKhnapatClosed"Jukhtak eghtsi" churchChurch11th-13th centuriesKhndzristanRuined?khachar1297-1800KhramortRuinedkhachkarHoly Mother of God churchChurch1800-1876KhramortRuined"Vaka" churchChurch11th-12th centuriesTsaghkashatRuined?Khachar9th-13th centuriesTsaghkashatRuinedcemetery with many khacharsHoly Mother of God churchChurch1841KarmirOperating"Aghen nahatak" or "Khachin tak" churchChurch12th-13th centuriesKarmirRuinedHoly Mother of God churchChurch19th centuryHaravRuinedHoly Mother of God churchChurch19th-20th centuriesMadatashenOperatingHoly Mother of God churchChurch19th centuryMoshkhmhatOccupied"Ghevondants" monastery or "Kondik"Monastery cell5th-6th centuriesMoshkhmhatOccupiedHoly Mother of God churchChurch17th-18th centuriesMkhitarashenRuinedHoly Mother of God churchChurch19th centuryNakhijevanikOperatingSt. George churchChurch1810NoragyukhRuined"Tigranakert" churchChurch5th-7th centuriesNor MaraghaOccupied"White cross" churchChurch5th centuryNor MaraghaOccupiedHoly Mother of God churchChurch1849Nerkin SznekClosedHoly Mother of God churchChurch 1918ShoshClosed"Buduru"Holy place, khachkar11th-13th centuriesShoshRuinedChurch in the settlement of "Shaghot"Church11th-13th centuriesShoshRuinedSt. Stephen churchChurch1655ShoshRuinedSt. Stephen churchChurch19th centuryBadaraOperatingHoly All-Savior churchChurch13th centuryBadaraRuined"Darpasut eghtsi" churchChurch9th-14th centuriesBadaraRuined"Khravand" churchChurch13th centuryBadaraRuined"Tsera nahatak" churchChurch9th-13th centuriesBadaraRuined"Jukhtak eghtsi" churchChurch12th-13th centuriesBadaraRuinedSeven churches' monasteryMonastery 12th-13th centuriesBadaraRuined"Otskan" churchChurch13th centuryBadaraRuinedHoly Mother of God churchChurch1888JraghatsnerOccupied"Bununts dzori eghtsi" churchChurch12th-13th centuriesJraghatsnerOccupiedSt. Vanes churchChurch17th-19th centuriesJraghatsnerOccupiedSt. Stephen churchChurch1894RevClosedHoly Mother of God churchChurch18th centurySghnakhOccupiedSt. George churchChurch1875SarnakhbyurOperatingChurch in the settlement of "Nor Shen"Church17th centurySardarashenRuinedHoly All-Savior churchChurch19th centurySarushenClosed«Phirumashen» church (XII-XIII)Church12th-13th centuriesSarushenOperatingSt. Jakob churchChurch1885Verin SznekClosed"Eghtsadzori eghtsi" churchChurch17th-18th centuriesVerin SznekRuinedHoly Mother of God churchChurch19th centuryVardadzorRuinedChurch in the sanctuary of "Chaghmakhsar"Church19th centuryVardadzorRuinedHoly Mother of God churchChurch18th centuryVarazabunRuined"Ptkes Berk" or "St. George" monasteryMonastery17th centuryUlubabClosedHoly Mother of God churchChurch19th centuryQyatukRuinedHoly Mother of God churchChurch19th centuryQrasniRuined"Jam" church (XIII-XVII)Church13th-17th centuriesQrasniRuined
Hadrut region