Showcasing the Legacy of
Armenian Khachkars in the
Digital Age.

Khachkars first appeared in the ninth century CE, but their origins are still debated. Many scholars trace them back to the four-sided stone stelae, which had similar engraved crosses. These stelae were raised after Armenia adopted Christianity early in the fourth century. Other scholars believe that khachkars were originally a folk development of worshipping the cross. The Church then adopted these crude stone monuments and developed them into an elaborate genre, which survived until the late eighteenth century.

Medieval khachkar carvers typically followed the style of a local school; modern carvers compile their cross-stones from different schools and styles. As a result, an “ideal” khachkar might combine in one composition all the components: the fruits of the blooming cross, symmetric wings, rosette in the lower part, pairs of birds or heavenly luminaries at the top.