LA RIOJA'S Armenian community will donate a sculpture known as a 'Khachkar' to the people of the northern wine region as a 'thank you' for their hospitality.
Quite possibly the highest level of gratitude and the greatest honour possible from the Armenian people, the elaborate monument is in the process of being carved and will be set up in the town of Arnedo in time for the region-wide event, La Rioja Tierra Abierta ('La Rioja Open Land').
Iskandar Grigoryan was the first expat from the country to settle in the area, 23 years ago, and is a founder member of the Association of Armenians in La Rioja, a social and cultural group which now has legal status.
“We have always wanted to do this to thank Arnedo and La Rioja for its hospitality and for welcoming us,” Grigoryan says.
A highly-spiritual, emotional and cultural symbol, whose name translates as 'cross on stone', the Khachkar has been present throughout Armenia since ancient times and, since November 2010, has been a UNESCO Intangible Heritage piece.
The first Khachkars appeared in the ninth century, during the Armenian Renaissance following the country's liberation from Arab rule – in fact, the oldest identifiable one found, not including more rudimentary models whose sculptors are unknown, dates back to the year 879.
It was created by Garni and dedicated to Queen Katranide, wife of King Ashot I Bagratuni.
Although their heyday was over by the 14th century, over 40,000 remain in Armenia, the majority of which are in the open air – although a handful are based in monasteries.
The three most famous were built between 1213 and 1291 in Geghard, by Timot and Mjitar; in Haghpat, by Vahram and in Goshavank (pictured) by Poghos, all great masters firmly entrenched in Armenian art history.
For tourists looking to find them easily, several quality examples are held at the History Museum in the capital, Yerevan, and in the cathedral in Echmiadzín.
